Breathing

Breathing.

Something so natural, so intrinsic and invaluable an activity, so...common.

The average person takes 12 breaths per minute, but it's barely something we're aware of. With Yoga having become as mainstream as sliced bread, we are now given tools to learn how to breathe more deeply, more to the core. IF you're into Yoga, that is.

I always thought it was a romantic concept - standing still and quiet, arms clasped together in reverance, salutations to the sun. So I bought a DVD on it set in a calming desert surrounded by gorgeous colours and set to exotic and peaceful music. And MAN was it hard! I know that Yoga is a form of excercise that takes committment and practice, but I never could really wrap my head around it - not to mention my body - although I would love to try it again sometime. All attempts aside, one thing I found absolutely invaluable was being taught the awareness of breathing, of life's sweet breath.

Breathing properly is an absolutely crucial tool in the first days and weeks of this process. I read recently a forum member's post telling of how to get the most nicotine out of a sickorette, we breathe more deeply than we do otherwise. This may explain in part some of the sense we get as smokers that we are 'relaxed' when smoking.

When we first quit, we tend to take far more shallow breaths, when we need to stay focused and calm. It is amazing how profoundly and immediately a deep breath will calm one's nerves. During the beginning of this process, I found Ian's script ( another 'reformed smoker)' on how to breathe deeply. It was instrumental for the early times I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin, so I'd love to share it with you. This method works for so many situations;

Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and breathe in through your nose. Keep breathing in until your lower stomach starts to rise. (This is also known as diaphramatic breathing, and really helped me as an asthmatic). Then, put your lips together as if you are blowing up a balloon. Blow all the air out slowly in a controlled manner until it is all gone. The breathing out should take almost twice as long as the breathe in.

Now for the 'magic'. When you have practiced this and understand what to do, you will start to feel a change in your body. It is important that you take notice of this, the drop of the shoulders, the loosening of the face, and any other feelings you may have. When you have mastered this each time you take a deep breath, you can say a word. It can be any word such as RELAX, CALM, PEACE, QUIET, or any word that you want. The word should be repeated over and over again in your mind as you breathe out. Very shortly, all you will have to do is say the word and your body and mind will instantly return to that calm state. You can do this anywhere and at any time and no one will even know you are doing anything differently.

The control of breathing is important. The faster one breathes, the more oxygen is being taken from the brain and the more anxiety is felt. Control your breathing and you will release the brains' own 'feel good' chemicals called 'endorphins'. With practice, you will be able to change your mood whenever you want.

In a way, that is what smoking is. You say the word 'cigarette' and your body reacts by becoming tense and anxious. You light a cigarette, and by taking that first deep breath, you are doing exactly the same as taking a deep breath without a cigarette, though as a smoker, you attribute the change in feeling to the cigarette itself, which actually hasn't done anything.

This next one is one of my very favourite excercises, and never fails to take the edge off of whatever stressful or tense day I may be having in life.

Stand up. Right now, go on, you can do it (or if you can't, then sit up straight with both feet firmly planted on the ground). Lift your arms as high up as you can. Now close your eyes and think of something you love, something or someone that tickles your soul; a child, a puppy, a warm summer day in a wheat field; Now breathe it in. Breath in all of that sunlight and warmth and love and preciousness and feel it infuse your entire being and pool at your feet.

Isn't it marvellous to breathe?