When was the last time you took a breath? You’d say you just did, a moment back, right? And, again, you breathed. And, again… Life goes on like this. Breathing is something that happens naturally like the heart pumping the blood. You can never actually choose whether to take part in it or not. You know, they say, “Nobody has ever killed themselves by consciously stopping breathing.” Impossible.
Breath (you could mean oxygen) has been the most essential resource for humans for survival from day 1. Cut off oxygen and you pop dead there and then.
And, though it sounds too good to be true, every single freaking breath you inhale is FREE. You see? Breath has the highest demand, outright inelastic product, and without a penny of charge from Mother Nature? Perhaps, that explains why we take it for granted??
You know, there are times when one does realize the indispensable importance of breathing. For example, I was once BBQing with my family in the front yard. Everything was well and good, there was this juicy spicy aroma in the air and all of sudden the heap of coal under the BBQ grill got so hot that it caught a blast of fire. There was total black smoke everywhere in no time.
We were engulfed in dark suffocating clouds of Carbon and I felt I was gonna get knocked out by the loss of oxygen on the spot and would never ever wake up again! Though I was strong enough to stay firm on my feet, I felt my body losing breath bit by bit.
My big brother, who had organized the whole BBQ setup, and who is such a pro at BBQs, had seemingly dealt with such situations before. So, he knew exactly what to do.
Since the yard was covered with a makeshift roof there was no way the smoke could be released from the top. So, he rushed back to the entrance of the house and unlocked the large main gate and let out the heavy horrendous smoke that was enough to kill us all.
My Goodness, it was a bad, near-death experience for me! Luckily, there were no children around. All those near the BBQ stand, including me, were disoriented and in a state of shock. My older brother was dazed and teary but seemed to be having fun because as I said he had seen this thing before.
So, that was the exact point in my life when I realized the meaning of breathing and what it’s like to be deprived of oxygen for a few moments.
In ancient Hindu scriptures, they link breath to the very source of life. They say breath comes out of nowhere and disappears back into the unknown just like we do. They say, each breath connects you to the core of your spirit. Or that, each breath is a thread that connects the body to the spirit. So, the more consciously you breathe, the more alive you are and the better you’re in touch with life.
Breathing, my fellas, is what you need to become friends with. The internet is just flooded with guided breathing tutorials and I’m not sure how effective and health-giving each one is. But there are some verified and time-tested techniques that you must incorporate into your routine.
For instance, start your morning (the instance you get up from bed) with a nice and warm breathing session. Taking it in, reaching the belly, counting 1…2…3…4…5 and release. Phew… Ten rounds at first and then 20 and then when you’re comfortable, 30. This is sufficient to activate your hidden store of potential and boost your mental strength beyond your imagination.
Moreover, you could try out more complex and intense breathing patterns, but I recommend not being hard on yourself. Sometimes, the head gets so charged after conscious breathing that you can’t sleep at night because of the influx of energy. So, start small. And find your pace.
You know, with continuous practice of conscious breathing, the very body transforms itself. You see real physical changes in your appearance. Every cell in this living organism rejuvenates and becomes alive…
Breathing meditation turns you into a powerhouse of energy – it feels as if it has awakened a dormant giant that was always there within you. Once this giant is unleashed you can never get tired and you can never go wrong in life.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Do it and experience it for yourself.
The reason you are alive and reading this article is your breath. It’s time to honor it and give it the attention it deserves. Once you are in its good books and all up and cozy with breath, it will give you tremendous power to do big things in life, and like Aladdin’s flying carpet, you’ll ride it and find yourself soaring in the skies!
I know all this firsthand because it’s coming from my personal experience. The BBQ incident gave me an insight that I’ll forever cherish. You don’t need a shocking experience like that to be grateful for this FREE lifeline: the gift of breath, do you? Hold it for a couple of seconds and you will know! Haha.
Have questions? Do ask! Comment and share your thoughts with me. Let me know what breathing techniques have you tried and which worked best for you so far.
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