Let’s Breathe Through This Together

1 min

In Buddhist and yogic traditions, some have claimed to reach an enlightened state by doing nothing more than paying attention to the rising and falling of the breath. In a time of high stress and anxiety, breathing can not only help calm your state of mind but also help you to reach a meditative state. Breathing and breathing exercises are intrinsic parts of many forms of meditation the world over. It is also free and always available to you!

By paying attention to your breath – the ebb and flow of in and out – you will rapidly change your state of consciousness, begin to relax, and slowly detach from ordinary awareness. Try to focus on the dimensionless point between your in-breath and out-breath and glimpse the elements of enlightenment in that space.

Here are a few video examples of breathing exercises that Dr. Weil uses and recommends:

• The 4-7-8 Breath

A Dr. Weil favorite, this breathing exercise is a natural tranquilizer for the nervous system.

• The Bellows or Stimulating Breath

The aim of this exercise aim is to raise vital energy and increase alertness.

• Breath Counting

A deceptively simple breathing technique much used in Zen practice.

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