31 Days of Learning to Breathe: Intentional breathing

It seems like a no brainer to say "intentional breathing". I mean isn't that what we do on a regular basis? Well, not really. Just because breathing for most of us is so natural we don't think about it, doesn't mean it's intentional. We aren't necessarily being "purposeful, conscious" of how we're breathing. 

I've never taken an actual yoga class, but I have done videos and have watched or read enough to know that when doing yoga, how you breathe is very important. You must be intentional. Did you know that breathing intentionally is a great stress reliever? On average we might take 20,000+ breaths a day. Could you imagine if even a quarter of those were mindful, intentional breaths? If you really stop to think about it, your breath controls much more than we think. It controls how we feel, what we focus on, etc. If we're working out hard, we aren't able to speak, our breathing keeps us from doing that. If we're in a scary situation or for many, facing an anxiety attack, this impacts our breathing. By realizing how these situations affect our breathing, we can learn to focus on how we are breathing. We can take slow, intentional breaths, meant to calm us, meant to bring our breathing back to a normal level. 

Want ideas of how to use intentional breathing techniques? You can simply google it or go to youtube. I also like this link from Dr. Axe, 5 Breathing exercises to reduce stress and improve sleep. How about some soothing, relaxing instrumental music. Anything that will help you focus your breathing. Whether it be focused prayer, time in nature focusing on your breathing as you listen to the birds, the wind, take in the view.

Take time this week to be intentional with your breathing. Ask yourself, am I really living, or just merely breathing. 


With Joy Unquenchable,