Breath of Life

Every breath we take gives us life. Every breath we take is shared with and by every being who has ever lived and who will ever live. Is it any wonder that in every religion, in every culture there is reference to breath and breathing?

Breath has the ability to calm our souls. Breath has the ability to heal our bodies. Breath has the ability to empower our minds and center our beings. Breath is a powerful tool. But very few of us use it to its full potential.

Imagine there is a pill that is free to everyone in the world. This pill can rid the user of stress, anxiety, mental illness, fatigue, and depression. This pill can fight cancer, heal diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disease, and liver problems. It can eliminate pain, take away headaches, alleviate allergies. It can solve back problems, and restore circulation. This pill can do all this and more. Everyone in the world would rush to take this pill, right? At least everyone you and I know.

We have a means to all this and more, without ever having to pop a single pill. It is available to everyone, everywhere, at all times. It is completely free of charge (at least for now) and easy to use. You guessed it, I'm talking about breathing. It's something we all do every day but few of us do it in a way that provides total body benefits. Let's learn how.

First, let's take a look at what breath really is. Since ancient times breath has been known to be the lifeforce of all beings. Breath delivers life. Without breath there is no life. In the Chinese culture this lifeforce is called Chi. It is also known as qi, prana, energy, and ki, among other names. With every breath in, our bodies receive fresh Chi, or energy, and with every breath out, our bodies are released from spent Chi.

If we use these in and out exchanges of Chi to focus our minds and cleanse our bodies of impurities, then we have the ability through breathing alone to obtain optimum health of body and mind. But simply breathing isn't enough. Centered breathing is key.

With centered breathing we focus only on each breath. Here's how.

Find a comfortable spot, neither too light nor too dark, too cold nor too warm. Remove yourself from distractions so you can focus your complete attention on breathing. Now, with your eyes closed, slowly breath in through your nose for a count of three. Feel every sensation of the breath as it enters your body. Feel it as it slips past your nostrils and into your lungs. Feel the renewal of your lifeforce as this breath enters your body, bringing with it the vital Chi of life.

Now, slowly, quietly exhale through your mouth for a count of three. Feel the old Chi leave your body, used, stale, spent. Focus on the leaving of the breath, of the old lifeforce, before slowly inhaling again, bringing more new Chi into your body.

Continue with this focused breathing for at least ten minutes, emptying your mind of everything except your breath. Feel the tension drain from your body as you focus on your breathing. Let go of the stress and anxiety. With each breath in, fill your body with peace, tranquility, health, joy, love. With each breath out, release each and every poison you have been holding in your body. Release the anger, hostility, pain, suffering, and sickness and replace them with positive energy.

When you are finished, slowly open your eyes and return your breathing to normal. Remember how you feel at this moment and strive to hold on to that feeling throughout your day. It will not be easy at first but the more you come back to this breathing exercise the longer you will hold onto the peace and tranquility that you found through it and the healthier you will become. With enough practice you will be able to center your breathing and your mind anywhere, at any time, then you will be on the road to lifelong health for your body, mind and spirit.

Visit the following links for more tips on breathing and breathing meditation:

http://www.theartofbreathing.com/index.htm

http://www.how-to-meditate.org/breathing-meditations.htm

http://www.aboutmeditation.org/breathing-meditation.php