Breath it OUT!
Do you ever feel like taking a deep breath when you feel overwhelmed but that breath isn’t enough? Or you want to say something but you can’t find the words or feel you don't have a big enough sound to break through to the other person? You are not alone in those thoughts.
In college, I took an acting class to speak and breathe “correctly”. Throughout the class, we realized none of us were breathing correctly, by not using the full capacity of our lungs. I was confused when our teacher told us; I thought, “ I’m breathing now, this class is dumb.” But that class ended up changing my life. Over the semester, we realized that over the years growing up in a society that is about control we have suppressed our voices and tightened up our muscles that allow us to take a full breath. I learned that out of the many acting techniques we learned, a lot of them derived from yoga. From then, I started my yoga journey and started embracing breath work or “pranayama”, and never turned back.
Breathing is the first things we do when we enter this world, and with that breath comes an unyielding, uncontrollable sound from the new life. You can see their bellies rise and fall as their ribs expand full of breath. As life goes on those ribs become tight and our cries and breathing become silent. Growing up in this modern society, where technology is at the hub of our communication; verbal and physical communication is lessening.We find ourselves in an age where we are struggling to be ourselves unapologetically.
Here are some of my favorite breathing exercises to connect to my breath and sound:
BOX BREATHING
Another great breathing technique is box breathing. It can help with focus, stress, stimulating brain growth, cleansing of the lungs, and improvement in pain tolerance. To do this you simply inhale to a certain number that you feel comfortable, hold your breath for that same amount of time, and then exhale at the time previously used. Public speakers, surgeons, the Navy Seals, and the Special Forces are just a few professions that are taught this tool to help control their thoughts and emotions when faced with challenging situations that obscure their clarity. This technique is often used in the treatment of conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression.
LION’S BREATH
My favorite is called the lion's Breath. In Hindi, it is called Simhasana Pranayama, which is translated to the drawing of the lion. To do this you inhale, open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue, and exhale on the sound “ ah”. Doing this in public, might not be socially acceptable, but that is the issue with society. People judge others by living, and if one can't breathe freely and audibly, how can the world be a better place?
ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING
Alternate nostril breathing is a great tool for congestion and imbalance. When you inhale from your left nostril it has a calming and cooling effect, whereas when you inhale from your right nostril it stimulates warmth and energy. Inhaling essential oils while doing this exercise is a great way to stimulate your sinuses and respiratory system. This exercise is something that doesn't have to be audible as you can do this in any space.