Breathing not only oxygenates the body, but it expels toxins, enlivens the tissues, helps us process our emotions and inspires our lives. Deep breathing allows you to become fully charged up.
Breath allows us to reach altered states of consciousness, something that helps creativity and power. In yoga, it is believed that our thought stream is in influenced by the pattern of our breathing. And most yogis and Taoists know that breath is our primary source of prana/energy/chi. That is a huge thing to comprehend.
Breath is quite literally what keeps us going. Learning to manage, harness and utilise the power of our breath can make a radical change in our lives.In my time I have discovered the Wim Hof Method, a form of breathing that allows you to push the limits of your body. It involves cold therapy and deep breathing. It’s radical but is changing the lives of so many people, and I am on that journey too. During creative practices when people are feeling nervous or unsure of themselves, I suggest a short session of an altered state of consciousness breathing, it helps to quiet the mind and bring you back to the body. This is very important if you are finding it hard to connect with the camera, and let the words flow. You want to appear natural and easy, and this is a great way to come back to that state.
Some breathing techniques to explore:
Slow Deep Breathing Hold the breath momentarily between the inhale and exhale. Holding the breath oxygenates the brain and facilitates clarity, as well as raising our carbon dioxide levels.Deep breathing increases alpha brain waves and relaxes the body and mind. The Wim Hof Method The Method talks about ‘discovering your inner fire and optimising your performance’,whatever that may be. The aim is to heighten oxygen levels, which has unlimited benefits including precision thinking and clarity.
Alternate nostril breathing In yoga, it is believed that the state of the nostrils is an indication of hemispheric dominance. Whichever side of the nose you breathe through can tell you which side of the brain you favour.To open the other side of the brain and to facilitate cross-hemispheric or whole brain thinking, we can use alternate nostril breathing.Hold one nostril closed, inhale and hold the breath. Breathe out the other nostril. Take another breath in and hold. Exhale through the alternate nostril. Repeat for five to ten minutes.You will find a new sense of balance, mental clarity, improved intuition and inspired thought.
Breath retention The fourth and most advanced, but highly efficient method of creative problem solvingis to practice breath retention.The great Japanese inventor Yoshiro Nakamats, PhD, attributes much of hisphenomenal creativity to underwater swimming. He is credited with more patents thanThomas Edison!He uses a swimming pool, but you don’t need to go underwater yourself. Instead, simply hold your breath for as long as you can. It is said that this helps to alter thecarbon/oxygen balance in the brain and bring greater clarity to your mind.Breathing intentionally, deeply and with purpose allows us to get more intimate with ourselves which in turn allows us to hear when our body is talking to us, giving uswisdom downloads, creativity rushes and so much mores