Unlike heartbeat or digestion, breath is a bodily function we can consciously control.
Breathing is life and experts say that good breathing is a major component of good health, yet many of us spend our lives taking too-shallow breaths that can increase our stress levels.
Unlike heartbeat or digestion, breath is a bodily function we can consciously control. A research by pulmonologists shows that we breathe in 10,000 litres of air in a day, while we eat only 1.5-2kg of food and drink 2-3 litres of water. It also shows 90 per cent of our nutrition comes from breath; our body weight is 70 per cent oxygen and the surface area of a lung is 100 square metres while that of the whole skin is two square metres. If you spread a lung, it will cover a whole tennis court, so don't underestimate your breath.
Breathing has proven to be an effective tool to remove stress and impurities from the system and bring clarity and focus to the mind. Dr Saicharan Bodi, associate staff physician, department of pulmonology, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said that chronic stress also causes cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, cancer and psychiatric disorders. "A new emerging field of medicine is the mind-body medicine which focuses on various interactions among the brain, mind, body, behaviour and on the ways they directly affect our health," he said.
"The concept of mind-body medicine, hence, emphasises on various intervention strategies that are thought to promote holistic health such as relaxation, hypnosis, and yoga that combines breathing exercises, physical postures and meditation," he added.
He said that by utilising a simple tool as the "breath", one can reduce stress immensely.
Dubai resident Mithila Kawa said: "My struggle with depression started about 12 years ago. It started as changes in behaviour pattern - crying, anger, fights, mood swings, not willing to meet anyone. I wasn't able to even do basic functions such as house chores, driving or finding my way home. I had to quit my job. I developed sleeping disorder and I also developed the fear of traveling by plane. I began to have suicidal thoughts and my family could not leave me alone," she said.
Mithila sought help after years and was diagnosed with depression. "I continued with therapy for about four to five years but it was not a permanent solution as relief was temporary," she said.
"Then in April 2017 my dad and younger brother, who had tried the Art of Living happiness programme, recommended it to me. After the programme, my mood swings improved. I started experiencing positive emotions and felt happy and peaceful for the first time in many years," she said.
"With regular practice, I was able to get rid of my negative emotions such as stress, fear, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. These practices have helped me bring my life back on track and I'm able to do my daily chores and drive. I have even started working again. My mood swings have reduced and my relationships with my family have improved too. I no longer feel disengaged with people around me," she added.
"Today I'm able to overcome routine stress or thoughts of negative past experiences more easily with my breathing practices and meditation."
Another Dubai resident Rupa said: "I was losing interest in social activities and there were times I just wanted to remain isolated. Every day seemed like a big struggle, I felt very low on energy and also had a bronchitis episode first time ever in my life, with no previous history of any respiratory illness," she said.
"I had become too fragile emotionally, any negative news would impact me greatly and I would feel very depressed.I started worrying for small things and magnifying tiny issues. I was under constant stress and fear for unknown," said Rupa.
"Usually a cheerful self and full of energy, I now had become reclusive and would mostly be lying down.I would burst out crying for no reasons, there were times I would start getting ready for work and cry profusely with no energy to even get ready. I started questioning myself: Am I clinically depressed? Do I need professional help? I wanted to seek help but wasn't sure if that was the right approach as my family constantly kept saying it was just a phase and it will pass on."
"But somewhere I knew it was more than that.I had suffered for almost over six months ..then just before the summer vacation this year I did the Art of Living Happiness programme suggested by a friend who had himself taken it and reaped the benefits," said Rupa.
"I had booked my appointment with the therapist in India thinking I will consult her there and take sessions as necessary. However, after doing the five day Art of Living course, I didn't need any other help. My life started looking good again. The first time when I performed the programme, I cried a lot and suddenly felt the gush of energy, something felt so good. It wasn't easy to understand why and how some simple breathing exercises could help but it did and I was the proof myself," she said.
"In fact, breath is basic, we just need to breathe to good health and happiness and what more its free and it's all yours, however you want to use," she added.
Viktoria Chandrasekharan, teacher, Art of Living Happiness programme, said the practice of yoga based breathing exercises helps in tuning the nervous system to its natural harmonious way of functioning.
"It helps in improving your health in several ways: the blood pressure comes to normal, the brain waves calm down, the digestive system improves, sleep becomes very deep and relaxing," she said.
"The breathing techniques lead to a meditative state that helps in bringing about an authentic serenity of mind. It helps get rid of deep rooted negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, worry, regret and anger," she said.
Courtesy: Khaleej Times
