Conscious Breathing
‘A yogi measures the span of life by the number of breaths, not by the number of years.’
- Swami Sivananda
'Breathing is a natural process and the normal rate is 15 breaths per minute, 900 breaths per hour and 21,600 breaths per 24 hours. When the breathing rate is increased, longevity is decreased. At the rate of fifteen breaths per minute one will live up to 75 or 80 years. At the rate of ten breaths per minute the lifespan is lengthened to about 100 years. The lifespan is shortened when the breathing rate is above 15 breaths per minute, as in the case of a dog that lives for 10 or 15 years. Quick, shallow breathing is an aging factor as well as being detrimental to physical and emotional wellbeing, integration and balance. One should become conscious of the breath and learn to maintain the normal breathing rate of fifteen breaths per minute. If one relaxes the body, stops worrying, and becomes aware of the breath for a minute or so, the breathing rate will drop down to fifteen.
'Incorrect and irregular breathing often reflects various disturbances in the body and mind. One is familiar with the disruption in the breathing pattern associated with pain or powerful emotions. A sob of grief, a startled gasp, and the deep trembling breaths of anger are well known examples of how emotion affects the breathing. This process also works the other way around. Correct breathing profoundly improves one’s physical and mental wellbeing. Therefore, the first prerequisite of pranayama is conscious breathing, whereby it becomes possible to correct the breathing habits. In order to develop conscious breathing, one must free the mind from emotional tension.
'The breath is perhaps the only physiological process that can be either voluntary or involuntary. One can breathe consciously and control the breathing process or one can breathe reflexively or unconsciously. If the breath is unconscious, it falls under the control of primitive parts of the brain where emotions, thoughts and feelings of which one has little or no awareness become involved. However, the moment one starts to breath consciously, the frontal brain registers the breath, allowing control of the different hemispheres of the brain.
'The breath should become part of one’s constant awareness. The first step towards achieving this is to simply become aware of the breathing process.'
- Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, of the Bihar School of Yoga. From the book, 'Prana and Pranayama.'
- Swami Sivananda
'Breathing is a natural process and the normal rate is 15 breaths per minute, 900 breaths per hour and 21,600 breaths per 24 hours. When the breathing rate is increased, longevity is decreased. At the rate of fifteen breaths per minute one will live up to 75 or 80 years. At the rate of ten breaths per minute the lifespan is lengthened to about 100 years. The lifespan is shortened when the breathing rate is above 15 breaths per minute, as in the case of a dog that lives for 10 or 15 years. Quick, shallow breathing is an aging factor as well as being detrimental to physical and emotional wellbeing, integration and balance. One should become conscious of the breath and learn to maintain the normal breathing rate of fifteen breaths per minute. If one relaxes the body, stops worrying, and becomes aware of the breath for a minute or so, the breathing rate will drop down to fifteen.
'Incorrect and irregular breathing often reflects various disturbances in the body and mind. One is familiar with the disruption in the breathing pattern associated with pain or powerful emotions. A sob of grief, a startled gasp, and the deep trembling breaths of anger are well known examples of how emotion affects the breathing. This process also works the other way around. Correct breathing profoundly improves one’s physical and mental wellbeing. Therefore, the first prerequisite of pranayama is conscious breathing, whereby it becomes possible to correct the breathing habits. In order to develop conscious breathing, one must free the mind from emotional tension.
'The breath is perhaps the only physiological process that can be either voluntary or involuntary. One can breathe consciously and control the breathing process or one can breathe reflexively or unconsciously. If the breath is unconscious, it falls under the control of primitive parts of the brain where emotions, thoughts and feelings of which one has little or no awareness become involved. However, the moment one starts to breath consciously, the frontal brain registers the breath, allowing control of the different hemispheres of the brain.
'The breath should become part of one’s constant awareness. The first step towards achieving this is to simply become aware of the breathing process.'
- Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, of the Bihar School of Yoga. From the book, 'Prana and Pranayama.'