Breathing - The Interface Between Mind and Body

In all the processes which maintain the life and functioning of the body - such as the beating of the heart and circulation of the blood, secretion of hormones, the process of digestion… in breathing we find the one essential function which is sometimes unconscious and sometimes conscious.

Most of the time we do not breathe consciously - we do not control the way we breathe and we are unaware of our breathing rhythms.

But if we start to look at the connection between breathing and the mental and physical states we experience - we see that the breath is directly affected by everything that we experience. Breathing is always affected by the conscious and unconscious states of mind - it is like a monitor which directly indicates the mental and physical states we experience.

When we experience stress, sadness, depression or joy, laughter or peace - the breathing reflects these states. If we are habitually in one state this may lead to a contortion of the breathing system - e.g. someone who is depressed will tend to have a long exhale (sighing) and will hardly breathe in - someone who is stressed will have very shallow and quick breathing, perhaps with a tendency to hold the breath after inhalation.

Mind and breath are mixed together like milk and water - inseparable - according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika - when the breath moves, the mind moves and when the mind moves, the breath moves - when the breath is modified or controlled, the mind is also modified and eventually brought under control. This technique is at the heart of the yogic process which leads to deeper or more subtle levels of experience and understanding.

Rewiring the Brain

Everyone’s mind is wired in a unique way. When a particular stimulus or a group of stimuli is experienced - a predetermined response results. This is known as conditioning or Vasana. Each of us has his own unique set of experiences and memories (samskaras) which structures our tendencies for thinking and behaviour.

That is not to say that all we do is simply respond mechanically according to certain neuronal structures - but once something is habitually known and not freshly experienced - repetition leads to a mechanical response. So much so that unless we experience something new, we are mired in repetition and mechanical responses to everything.

Developing a breathing practice opens a window in this closed loop stimulus-response pattern. It allows a breath of fresh air enter the stagnant repeating thought loops. The universe expands with the sense of new horizons and possibilities. Practice brings us the unexpected - surprise and delight at our successes and disappointment in our failures and ego attachments. Slowly our attitudes and habits start to change.

With repetition the mind starts to re-wire itself. This has been demonstrated experimentally. The brain is plastic - not fixed as has been asserted by most neurologists for decades. As neurons are repeatedly recruited together they start to form stronger connections facilitating quicker and easier co-ordination. These patterns get fixed over time but can be re-wired with new patterns. As Dr M Merzenich says in his book about his pioneering research into brain plasticity “Soft Wired” - “Neurons that fire together wire together”.

As we start to re-wire the brain we experience a paradigm shift - we start to re-assess our values and change our behaviour.

Breath and Mind

Breathing normally occurs as an unconscious reflection or mirror of our mental states - changing according to what is being experienced psychologically - but in yoga practice the aim is to regulate the breath with the conscious intention of influencing metal states. Adjusting the way you breathe affects emotion.

Breathing slowly through the nose calms the mind. It is an effective way to instil tranquility, peace and calmness in the face of anxiety, stress and confusion. It can alleviate depressive feelings and energize lethargy or sleepiness. It can release tension, relax digestion and aid concentration.

This conscious control of the breath is a valuable tool that can be employed in any challenging practical situation - not just during yoga practice. This is easy to observe: if you find yourself in a stressful situation, instead of venting or reacting, just keep your mouth shut and breathe evenly through the nose and observe the calming effect on your mind. The calming effect of conscious breathing can be increased by lengthening the exhale and holding the breath for a short time after exhaling.

Through deliberately changing the way one breathes, one modifies the way one feels and experiences on the physical, emotional and mental level. Moderating the breath has a fundamental impact on the biological functions of the body, sensations, actions of the nervous system, heart rate, blood pressure... in short, changing the breath has a comprehensive impact on the whole organism.

Conscious calibration of breathing is the central method utilized in yoga for relaxing the body and stabilizing the mind.

The Art of Breathing - Online Workshops - New Series starts on May 1