Prana Part 3

Breathing Modes and Habits

Diaphragmatic or thoracic (diaphragm or chest)
Continuous or interrupted by pauses
Rhythmic and continuous or irregular and choppy

How Do We Breath When...

• we are angry
• we are excited
• we are emotionally effected or very sad
• we are scared
• we are physically exhausted
• we are clam and relaxed

 So if our physical, emotional, and mental state has such an obvious effect on our breath, is the reciprocal true?

Practiced breath control envokes a corresponding state in body, mind, and emtion.  This is why in yoga breath proceeds motion a thought.  Controlling the breath and calming the nerves is the pre-requisite to integration of and control over mind and body.. the Ultimate Subjugation of the Universal Energy of Prana.  To the Yogi; body, breath, nerves, mind, prana, and the universe are all part of the continum, with no distractions between them.

The Link

So how can this be? Why?  What is the link between the body and mind, conscious and unconscious, physical from and subtle body.  In the body our nervous system is subdivided into the central and autonomic system.  Breathing is the only body function we can control both unconsciously or consciously.  If we do not attempt to control our breath our brain will carry on breathing automatically and unconsciously through our autonomic nervous system that runs all of our other automatic functions (heart beat and digestion are a few to name)  If we have the ability to deliberately channel and regulate the breath through the conscious mind with the central nervous system we create a bridge between the two nervous systems and hence between our conscious and unconscious minds.  We also begin to control the body through breath.

Namaste