7 Ways To Describe The Benefits Of Your Breath

The breath is one of the most important things in our lives. It’s essential for our survival, but it’s also a powerful tool for our health and well-being. The breath is one of the few bodily functions that is both automatic and something that we can change or control.

Imagine having to think about your breath in order to make sure that you’re breathing. All of the time! That would be exhausting and near impossible to accomplish. So, thank goodness it is automatic.

It’s also fascinating that you can also change your breath simply by thinking about how you want to breathe, and when you change your breath it affects the rest of your body at the same time. That’s a powerful connection!

There are so many different ways to describe the breath, and each way can offer us new insights into its power. Let’s go deeper into some of them.

7 Ways to Describe the Breath

1. A cycle

The breath is a continuous cycle of inhalation and exhalation. This cycle never stops, and it’s essential for your survival. You don’t have to think about it. Your body will do it automatically in order to survive. The breath is also a powerful metaphor for life itself. Just as the breath is a cycle, so too is life a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

2. A bridge between the mind and the body

The breath is the bridge between the mind and the body. When we breathe consciously, we can use the breath to calm the mind and relax the body. The breath can also be used to bring awareness to the body and to connect with our inner selves.

I use this bridge between the mind and the body all the time with my clients. By bringing awareness to your breath, you bring awareness to the other sensations in your body. That awareness can be the key to understanding your present life and often leads to actions that you want to take. It’s all connected!

3. A source of energy

The breath is a source of energy. When we breathe deeply, we take in more oxygen, which gives us more energy. Every breath that you take in brings oxygen into the blood stream and helps your body to function as it’s supposed to function.

Another way that your breath can increase your energy levels is through the release of stress and tension. Your stress and tension have a way of draining your body and it’s energy and when you use your breath to reduce it, then your energy levels can rebound.

4. A tool for relaxation.

The breath is a powerful tool for relaxation. When we breathe deeply and slowly, we can calm the mind and relax the body. Even just one deep breath can break the cycle of stress. Imagine how helpful it can be to take 5-10 minutes a day to simply breathe. You can reduce your stress and anxiety levels with the simple act of taking a breath.

5. A tool for focus.

The breath is a powerful tool for focus. When you focus on your breath, you can bring your attention away from your thoughts and worries and into the present moment.

I will often ask my clients to take a deep breath during a session. I do this to help them bring their focus back to the present moment. It works every time! Give it a try next time you’re feeling distracted or stuck in your thoughts. Stop. Take a few deep breaths and notice what’s happening in your body.

When you let the breath help you focus you’ll also improve your concentration and memory.

6. A tool for meditation.

The breath is a powerful tool for meditation. When we meditate on our breath, we can train our minds to be more focused and present. The breath can also be used to access deeper states of consciousness and to connect with our inner selves.

In most of my sessions, I’ll lead my clients through a breath centered meditation. It helps my clients to go deeper into whatever has been showing up for them in the session. It also leads my clients to the connection to their inner self and the wisdom that it holds.

7. A gift.

The breath is a gift. It’s something that we should never take for granted. It’s a source of strength, energy, and peace.

So many of my clients will tell me that they weren’t breathing at some point during a session. Obviously, their body was automatically breathing and making sure enough oxygen was getting into the body. My clients might be holding their breath and increasing stress and tension in their body, but what my client’s usually mean is that they aren’t paying any attention to their breath or the present moment. Instead they are usually busy thinking about problems or issues and being pulled into a past or future that they can’t control.

The breath is a reminder that we are alive and each time you come back to it you get to reopen the gift of the breath!

Don’t take the breath for granted!

The breath is a powerful tool for our health and well-being. You can use your breath to gain insights into your life and you can use it to change your life, but you can’t do that if you’re not paying any attention to it.

For my clients who’ve experienced trauma, the breath can be a challenge. The benefits of rediscovering the power of your breath are huge! By taking the time to learn more about the breath, you can use it to improve your life in many ways.

It’s never too late to reclaim your breath. Start today with one focused breath and see how it can shift your life. If yo need help with this, then set up a chat with me. Let’s discuss how Yoga Therapy can help with your breath.

And remember, it’s never too late to live healthier and happier!

Becky is a Yoga Therapist & has been teaching yoga since 2006. She loves to match people with a yoga practice that helps them to feel better every day & believes that there is a yoga practice for everyone. Click here to sign up for her mailing list & get all of the important news & tips first!