By Leiza Clark
We perform breathing as our most natural action, which contains essential elements for health and self-awareness and personal development.
Modern research shows that breath is the vital bridge between the body and the nervous system, playing a key role in reaching deeper states of awareness. Breathing functions automatically until we learn to practice it both as a scientific method and a sacred practice through mindful breathing.
Our body requires air as its fundamental necessity to survive. Cells obtain their power from oxygen through metabolic processes, which result in carbon dioxide as their waste product. The practice of conscious breathing at power plants creates effects that spread from electricity production to influence both physical health and mental well-being.
Intentional breathing practices, when done mindfully, lead to changes in the following areas.
The Nervous System: The parasympathetic system is activated through slow, deep breathing, which results in lower heart rate coherence and decreased stress hormones and relaxation.
Brain studies show that breathwork techniques improve neural plasticity and enhance both focus and emotional state regulation, according to research findings.
The improved oxygen delivery to cells enables better mitochondrial function, which leads to enhanced cellular vitality and resistance.
Using our Breath as Meditation
Our breath serves as a portal to meditation practice that extends past biological functions. Our natural breathing pattern serves as an automatic anchor for awareness, which enables mental stability while reducing mental distractions. The practice of breathwork meditation through belly movement observation and extended exhalations and breath retention techniques enables people to transition their minds from mental distraction to being fully present in the current moment.
The Sacred States of Breath
Breathwork has received sacred status throughout various ancient cultural practices.
The Sanskrit term prana describes both the biological function of respiration and the essential life force that maintains existence.
In Taoist practices, breath is a way to cultivate qi, or vital energy.
Breath functions as the hidden bond that unites physical form with mental awareness and spiritual essence according to various mystical belief systems.
The practice of respectful breathing allows us to access the internal guidance system of our body, which goes beyond basic air exchange. Through this practice, we learn about our connection to the universe because we receive life energy with each breath and send it back to the world with each exhale.
Blending Science and Spirit
Scientists can measure the breath through scientific methods, yet its complete nature remains beyond human understanding because it exists as a dual nature. The practice of scientific breathwork, together with meditation techniques, enables us to achieve these benefits.
Heightened awareness of our body and mind.
The body starts to release stored tension and stress as emotional release occurs.
The nervous system and heart-coherence function as a unified system to achieve inner alignment, which produces clearer thinking and additional intuitive or ESP abilities.
A felt sense of connection to life’s rhythm and everything and everyone.
A Simple Practice to Begin
- Find a quiet space and sit comfortably.
- Inhale gently through the nose for a count of 4.
- Hold the breath softly for a count of 4.
- Exhale through the nose for a count of 6
- Hold the out breath for count of 4
Perform the exercise for 5–10 minutes to see changes in your physical and mental state.
Our breath exists as our most devoted companion, which stays by our side throughout every moment of life. Each time we inhale we have the opportunity to link our scientific knowledge of the body with the mystical aspects of our spiritual being.
By practising the science of breath as a meditation, we don’t just oxygenate the body, we create heart and mind coherence.