Breathe into Life – Part 1 Breath Awareness

 

For most of us our breathing is unconscious. We take approximately 23,000 breaths per day, yet rarely notice one of them when absorbed in the day to day dilemmas and delights; and the busy-ness of work and play. Many of us are breathing in various levels of toxins in any twenty four hour period.  City living, job/work environment and habits like smoking cigarettes, cigars or various other drugs/substances (including alcohol), as well as modern food all affect our breathing.

Sit cross-legged on the floor

When we do begin to choose a deeper relationship with our breath it can feel strange at first. Almost like you’ve been ‘caught out’ doing something you shouldn’t. The reaction can be like a fight or flight response where breath becomes restricted and fear emerges. For some this ‘uncomfortable’ feeling stops them in their travels, and they figure – “That was too hard, I’ll go back to unconscious breathing thanx – I don’t need the hassle/drama!”