Research by the University of Melbourne and Macquarie University of Sydney undertaken in 2017 concluded that the correct form of breathing can reduce stress, blood pressure and your heart rate, this is something that Yogi’s have known for centuries but now has scientific backing. A 3-year study by which was published in the Scientific Journal Cell Metabolism revelled unusual activity between neurons controlling breathing and blood pressure during the development of hypertension. The nerve cells that regulate or generate breathing activity are located close in the nerve cells in the brain that regulate blood pressure – the two groups of neurons interact. Professor Allen concluded that decreased breathing rates can decrease blood pressure.
In my practice I have had clients turn up distressed – their respiration is high, within 7 minutes of controlled breathing, they are relaxed and calm. There are breath exercises that can cool the body down, others to calm the nervous system, and a myriad of other yogic breaths that assist individuals.
At Rapid Mind Therapies we use breathing as a technique to calm the mind and to clear the chatter in the mind.
Life is dependent on a breathing, water and food in that order. We cannot do without breath for more than a few minutes, we can survive without water for approximately 5 days, and survive without food for up to 21 days again depending on our physical make-up and athleticism.
This means that breath is essential for life – we breath in, we pull air into our lungs that contains mostly nitrogen and oxygen. When we exhale, we breathe out mostly carbon dioxide. … Just like oxygen, carbon dioxide is transferred to blood to be carried to the lungs, where it is removed, and we breathe it out.
The correct breathing can bring about enormous changes to our psychology and our physiology.
There are many forms of pranayama breathing – some to calm the mind and body, others to increase oxygen, and others again to reduce stress and anxiety. Breathing correctly helps the body and the mind while at the same time increases oxygen supply to the blood and eliminates carbon dioxide. You can stress less and accomplish more with breath.