Friday, November 28, 2014

Breathe Your Way to Better Physical and Emotional Health

by Steven Horne
The School of Modern Herbal Medicine

Over the years, I have observed that nearly all chronically ill people are shallow breathers. This is sometimes due to a hiatal hernia, but it can also be a sign of high levels of chronic stress. Breathing is vital to healing because without proper oxygenation, we can’t maintain or even rebuild good health.

Low oxygen levels in the body contribute to depression, fatigue, pain, and increased risk of infection. Cancer cells also thrive in a low oxygen environment. This is why I teach breathing exercises to chronically-ill people as part of their healing process. After practicing deep breathing exercises, people usually feel more relaxed, energized and alert.

Shallow breathing disconnects a person from life and feeling. Each basic emotional pattern—fear, joy, excitement, anger, sorrow, pleasure, etc.—has a breathing pattern associated with it. When we block, stuff or otherwise suppress our emotions, we also stifle our breath. By freeing our breath, we learn to let go of these old emotional issues.

The diaphragm is a large muscle that divides the trunk of the body into two halves. It is a unique muscle because it is under both conscious and unconscious control. Every other muscle is either controlled voluntarily (through the central nervous system) or involuntarily (through the autonomic nervous system). With the diaphragm we have a choice.

When we breathe unconsciously, our emotional state is largely controlled by the circumstances of life. What is happening (or not happening) in the world around us unconsciously determines our breathing pattern, and thus, our emotional state. As we take control of our breathing and learn to breathe consciously, we also learn to consciously choose the emotional frequency at which we vibrate. This allows us to gain control of our lives as well as our health.  Read the entire article.



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