Reiki and Meditation go hand in hand with Pranayama. As a Master Reiki Therapist, it is incumbent on me to, at least, bring the awareness of breathwork to my clients.
Breathing is important!
Think about it . . . You can go without food for days. Water you can go without for a few hours. Not as long as food but a while for sure.
Try doing that with breathing! Isn't going to happen!
Now I know it sounds ridiculous but think about it, I mean really think about it. When was the last time you practiced breathing on purpose?
It is the first thing humanity requires of us. When we are born they want us to breathe. If we don't they turn us upside down and whack us on the backside trying to squeak that first, of many, gulps of air through our brand new, unused lungs!
It's important!
What happens when we breathe on purpose?
When we breathe on purpose, (active breathing or pranayama), we think about the mechanics of breath. We feel the air sliding in and out of our nostrils.
We breathe deeper! More oxygen is carried to the brain and the other organs. Our extremities take on more oxygen by way of the blood.
The advantages of breath work or pranayama cannot be overstated!
Effects on Blood pressure
By practicing Pranayama regularly we can help combat hypertension (high blood pressure). By developing a routine one can help stave off, or reduce problems of hypertension. The art of breathing on purpose has the effect of relaxing the mind and body. This reduces the amount of stress in one's life. Stress is one of the major causes of hypertension today.
Sleep well
A regular practice of Pranayama, eventually, brings the lungs to a place where the act of breathing expands naturally. This in turn results in a more naturally expanded, resting breathing pattern. Sleep comes sooner and is uninterrupted by surrounding noises because you experience deeper sleep.
This, in turn, allows for a more attentive you throughout your day.
Natural anti-depressant
There are some studies out there that have found a significant correlation between some patients suffering from depression and yogic breathing exercises. These are short-term, small studies but they are significant enough to warrant further study in larger numbers for significantly longer periods.
Improved focus
As stated above, a regular practice of breathwork raises the levels of oxygen in the bloodstream. This, in turn, makes one's thinking clearer and sharpens the focus. Studies have shown a correlation between regular pranayama exercise and clearer, sharper memory.
Shortening of exercise recovery time
Along with a regular practice of Pranayama comes a significantly improved respiratory system. This improves, not only, performance in a variety of sporting activities; it greatly shortens the recovery time of long-distance or other extreme sport athletes.
In conclusion
In Eastern cultures, the benefits of breathwork have been known for many thousands of years. It was primarily practiced by extreme sporting practitioners or spiritual practitioners. It was used as a tool in natural health and well-being practices in these countries as well. Thankfully, some of the practitioners were guided to the West, for various reasons, and brought it with them to our shores so that we may reap the benefits of a practice used by their home countries for millennia.
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