Just Breathe…

Once upon a time, I was a Bikram Yoga devotee. I loved the heat, the sweat, its 26 poses…all of it. And one of the most profound lessons in my life came during one of these drenching wet classes. Finding myself in a difficult pose and trying desperately to hold it, I was unknowingly also holding my breath. My instructor came over and gently reminded me that we need to breathe through the pain…both in class and in life. She said it would help, and she was absolutely right. Today, I find myself taking deep breaths ALL the time. I have been going to spin lately, and I have noticed how deeply I am breathing as we suffer through a climb. I am breathing my way through the pain…and it feels so good!

In studying the pursuit of happiness, you realize many roads lead back to breathing. Whether we are meditating, seeking relief from chronic pain, or taking a 5-minute break from the day, the common thread is our breath. Why? I just happen to have a very scientific, but easy-to-understand, explanation for you.

Orange Balloon

Deep breathing works for at least 3 reason. First, deep breathing floods the body with oxygen, which neutralizes toxins and acidic wastes while improving overall tissue function. Simply put, you are only as strong as your body's weakest part so providing oxygen (through deep breathing) improves the overall function of EVERYTHING.

Secondly, deep breathing pumps the lymphatic system by moving fluid out of the tissues and into the lymphatics, resulting in a better oxygen and nutrient exchange at the tissue level. And if your lymph glands get backed up, all sorts of chaos erupts.

Finally, deep breathing reduces stress and muscle tension. Since stress and muscle tension increase pain, relaxing the body simply eases pain. We all have a tendency to "tense up" when we feel pain; however, this actually makes the pain feel worse, not better. So in reflecting on my Bikram story, the deeper the breath, the better the pose.

Next time you find stress ready to pounce on your day or you are experiencing some degree of pain, take a minute. Return to the breath…and just breathe.