There are two paths to healing our bodies and mind. In one, we rely on medicine and external aids. In the other, we awaken the body's capacity to heal from within. Self healing is not just a process of healing but becomes an inner journey of self transformation and expansion of consciousness, bringing clarity in perception and joy and happiness. The easiest and most effective subjective tool to self healing is our breath.
We have taken our breathing for granted and never stop to think that there is a direct relationship between breathing and health. Not just health but total health. Total health is physical, emotional and mental. We may be physically healthy but if we get upset and irritated all the time then we are emotionally unhealthy. Similarly, our brains chatter all the time, totally out of our control. Till we are able to calm this chatter we cannot claim that we are mentally healthy.
Most of the time we live in very negative emotional states that range from being upset, to fear, irritation, excitement, complaining, and holding onto a lot of stress. These states have a direct influence on our health. They increase our heart rate, blood pressure, decrease our digestive power, inhibit our capacity to relax and sleep, and even affect the sex function.
Just as our emotions affect our health they also influence our breathing. That is, every emotion has its own breath. In anger we breathe quick and shallow, in heavy stress we feel suffocated and in impatience, our breathing is chaotic. Now the opposite is also true. By breathing in rhythm, we can calm all our emotional outbursts and silence our chattering brains.
My teacher taught us a way of breathing in rhythm all twenty-four hours. Just by learning to breathe in this rhythm, the body starts restoring itself to total health. It turns on the natural relaxation response of the body which in turn activates a process of self healing. Each breath we take is healthful and works to harmonise our negative emotions, healing the repressions and wounds we hold in our subconscious minds. Slowly our brains stop their incessant chatter freeing us of stress. We enter into a comfort zone of deep relaxation which automatically brings health, peace and happiness.
Rajen Vakil teaches rhythmic breathing, alternative healing therapies, and spirituality. Visit www.3srb.org or www.3stepbreath.com
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