Find Out What It Can Do for You
It is easy to perceive that our superficial desires and emotions are biologically based on hunger, thirst, and exhaustion. On the other hand, comprehending how biological processes drive deeper thoughts like finding meaning in life or understanding one’s place in this world can be more complicated. Our heartbeat, breathing pattern, and synaptic transmissions all have an innate purpose—much bigger than simple biology.
Our brains have evolved, but humanity’s drive to question and explore, and our need for creativity and the expression of compassion are relatively new developments. The prefrontal cortex is the recent evolutionary development that allows us these capabilities, yet concurrently feeds into a perception that they’re not ‘biologically’ achievable.
We often search for an external or spiritual explanation to make sense of our existence, such as collective consciousness, a divine being, or metaphysical forces. However, the answer lies closer than we think: by going within ourselves and embracing all aspects of our physicality.
Our minds, inseparable from the physical structure of our brains and bodies, are malleable. By engaging in yoga with a particular focus on breathing techniques, we can cultivate habits that reduce stress; rewire our neural circuitry to alter our biology, allowing us to shift higher-level functions towards steadiness, connectivity, and compassion.
A Simple Solution
With its ancient roots tracing back to 10,000 years ago in Hindu tradition and written teachings arising around 5,000 years ago, yoga has been a source of spiritual guidance for many. It prompts us to wrestle with the same questions that contemporary philosophers struggle with: Who am I? What is life’s purpose? How can we escape from suffering and pain? Is freedom achievable? Most importantly: what is consciousness really made up of? Yoga allows us to ponder such queries while seeking answers within ourselves.
The sages of yoga have studied and concluded that the source for understanding our inner being begins not from the mind, but with our physical form. We exist in a body-mind complex, meaning we are whole when both components come into balance with one another. To achieve this equilibrium yogis use deliberate postures called “asanas” to access deeper awareness by focusing on more subtle details of their bodies and minds.
Derived from the verbal root “as-” (to sit) and the word “and” (breath), an asana is quite literally defined as sitting with your breath. This singular action cultivates a heightened awareness of our current environment by unifying body, breath, and mind in one motion, which helps explain why yoga carries such universal connotations of the union. Through each movement we make during an asana practice, we create harmony among these three elements, which inevitably allows us to be present in that specific moment.
In moments of breakthrough understanding, it becomes evident that our consciousness and physical form are both intricately linked. This is because awareness—a state of mind – and the body are interconnected in an ongoing cycle.
Throughout the day, our minds tend to become swamped with lists of things that need doing: Feeding the children, throwing out the trash, responding to emails, attending to laundry tasks, and so much more. Such is our brain’s role in sorting through information, whether tangible or mental, and organizing it into compartments for further analysis. However, when these duties are well beyond what we can handle at any given moment, consciousness takes a backseat while our mind mistakenly perceives itself as being completely distinct from its physical counterpart.
Yoga is special because it allows us to process physical, emotional, and mental feelings simultaneously. By calming the mind, we can recognize that our body, emotions, and thoughts work together in harmony. This understanding opens up a whole new world of possibilities. When we can observe ourselves without judgment or criticism, this leads to greater self-awareness, which then has powerful implications for all aspects of life.
When our body is attuned to the present moment, we feel most rooted in ourselves and aware of who we are. This heightened sensitivity allows us to tap into our bodies’ messages and reduce any stress or tension. All that’s required for this connection is a bit of space created solely to listen within ourselves.
Developing a tranquil space is easy enough. All you need to do is just concentrate on your breath and slow it down gradually. When we regulate our breathing, it encourages the activation of certain parts of our nervous system that result in sensations such as comfort, restoration, contentment, and peace—all feelings one can sense physically within their body.
Feeling secure is not something that occurs only in your mind; it has noticeable physical effects as well. When you feel safe, the body relaxes and breathes more calmly—an indicator of a steadier heart rate that instills a sense of warmth and comfort. On the contrary, when we experience an atmosphere of danger our heartbeat increases significantly, increasing blood pressure levels while bringing forth feelings such as tightness that can hinder us from thinking clearly.
The two branches of our autonomic nervous system both serve important functions: the parasympathetic nervous system helps assure us that we are safe, while the sympathetic nervous system allows us to respond with activity when faced with danger. Together, these systems help keep us balanced and alert in uncertain times.
The sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the nervous system are essential for our survival, as they trigger with each breath we take. As you may know, when we inhale, the sympathetic is dominant, while its opposite—the parasympathetic—dominates on exhales. When everything works in perfect harmony, balance can be achieved; however, if an overload of information or external demands overwhelms us, then that same sympathetic autonomic nerve becomes overactive and remains switched on, causing inflammation in your body. Fortunately, there is relief: elongated exhalations activate the calming reaction from that same parasympathetic area to help restore equilibrium!
Reducing your stress response is easy, just take time to slow down your breath rate from 15–18 breaths/minute to 5-7. Start by breathing in for a count of four, then out for another four. If this feels too short, try extending it to five or six seconds per inhale and exhale. Practicing this regularly will help you relax and feel more centered throughout your day!
Start by taking slow, steady breaths; they don’t need to be deep. Once you get into the rhythm of this process, it’ll become easier and only take around 10 minutes until your parasympathetic nervous system is in control. You can make an effortless transition from a state of agitation to serenity with relaxed breathing techniques!
Make a commitment to partake in this breath work each day, and you will develop not only the breathing habit but also an incredible sense of mindfulness. As your practice progresses, your mind will develop a background trait of steady awareness that becomes easier for you to return to when times get tough or overwhelming.
The fluctuating thoughts, emotions, and feelings of the mind represent its “states”, but when we practice breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation – we cultivate a profound sense of awareness that is known as a “trait”. It’s our minds’ traits rather than states which have the greatest significance in how we engage with others and life itself.
As your knowledge of yourself grows, you may recognize that there are multiple levels to who you are and how they interact with one another. It’s like perceiving a cloud—it has structure yet always shifts and changes in form. This is what we call the triad of human bodies: physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Our physical body can be nurtured and preserved by the sustenance we consume, whereas our subtle body of breath acts as a catalyst to life itself, establishing an essential connection between our outer selves and inner realms.
Our minds come after the breath and are characterized by sensations, feelings, data streams, ideas, and recollections. Nevertheless, our minds should not be regarded as supreme; they are merely a region in which thoughts and perceptions emerge.
Strengthening and encouraging the power of our mind is what’s known as intellect; a force more subtle than that of our mental capacity, that guides us towards decisions based on what we think. When our intellectual prowess is unclouded and robust, there will be no hesitation in making wise choices. However, if the inclination for thought overrides one’s insight, blunders are all but imminent.
The causal body, otherwise known as the body of bliss, is what allows us to access our inner intellect and be in a state of joy with no definite cause. This feeling of contentment radiates from within when we are free from any hindrances blocking its light.
With Diverse Yoga Practices, We Can Attend to All the Layers of Our Being:
- Through yoga postures, we can strengthen and care for our physical body.
- Deep, intentional breathing practices create a deeper connection between the body and breath.
- Chanting and ritual are powerful tools that help navigate the choppy waves of our minds.
- Meditation amplifies your mental strength and puts you in the moment to nurture a healthier mind.
- Putting others first is an amazing way to put our own obsessions aside, while at the same time reinforcing a sense of joy and contentment.
By practicing these techniques collectively, we can realize that we are not only a body and mind but rather an integral whole. Moreover, it is essential to understand that our existence does not exist independently of the universe; instead, everything on Earth influences each other with every breath taken. Nothing, in reality, exists in isolation – all things present occur simultaneously at once within each moment.
For centuries, we have been conditioned to analyze and compare one thing with another. This method of examining data has certainly helped us make important advancements in science, technology, and medicine, yet it’s not helpful for creating a harmonious world where love is expressed openly and acceptance reigns supreme.
By engaging in yoga and meditation, we can begin to transition our thoughts from a selfish focus on ourselves to an inclusive outlook on all those around us. This shift enables us to recognize that regardless of the physical distance between two individuals, we are still interlinked within this world; everything is happening at once. When we live through this unified perspective, stress levels drop and peace replaces conflict because problem-solving becomes more common than generating tension.
Constantly striving to demonstrate superiority or be entirely correct can result in living a life of protectionism. Everything is perceived as a menace to our influence and power. In contrast, when we adopt an attitude that eschews defensiveness, it becomes easier to recognize opportunities rather than threats; challenges become welcomed chances for growth and the realization of our potential as kind, conscious, and collaborative human beings.
Yoga is more than just a physical and mental workout, it is an exploration of your own heart to connect with something greater—the sacred. Through yoga, we find meaning and purpose, which allows us to understand that every other being has its own unique identity as well; all bodies are sacred because they have their own journey toward connecting with the divine.
Despite its seeming out-of-reach status, this level of life can be achieved with just one small step: a breath. All it takes is extending the exhalation and allowing yourself to enter an inner sanctum filled with connection, wholeness, completeness, and love.