The most important rhythm in our life is the one we typically take for granted—most notably breathing. Few of us even think about breathing. Oxygen becomes precious only in the rare instances when we can’t get enough—choking on a piece of food, getting caught in an ocean undertow, or suffering from a disease such as emphysema and asthma.
The ease of rhythm of our breathing, and the oxygen we consume, serves as a natural stimulus to the inner breathing of the 100 trillion cells in your body that enable you to produce biological energy, and in particular calm energy.
When we are tense and tired, our breathing tends to become shallow and intermittent. Each time stress levels rise, we tend to halt our breathing—if only for a few seconds. This creates a ripple effect of tension and anxiety because oxygen is vital to life, the body and brain are extremely sensitive to even very small reductions in its availability. When we unknowingly halt our breathing during the first moments of each stressful situation, it propels us toward feelings of anxiety, panic, anger, frustrations, faulty reactions, and a general loss of control.
The breath is a powerful tool for self-regulation—a means both to summon energy and to relax deeply. Extending exhalation, for example, prompts a powerful wave of recovery. Breathing in to a count of three and out to a count of six, lowers arousal and quiets not just to the body but also the mind and emotions. Deep, smooth and rhythmic breathing is simultaneously a source of energy, alertness and focus as well as relaxation, stillness and quite—the ultimate rhythm.
Breathing Exercises:
3-6 (Breath in for three, out for six)
4-4-8 (Breath in for three, hold for four, breath out for eight)
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Dr. Matt
