Mastering the Breath
(One of several chapters on breathing from the unpublished manuscript: Napoleon’s Bathtub)

        The life-transforming capacity of diaphragmatic breathing is acknowledged throughout the world’s religious philosophy, preventative medicine and martial arts. At the heart of all healing practices, it reduces stress, improves health and transforms consciousness,  producing greater effects on how one thinks and feels than food and exercise.
         Diaphragmatic breathing eases contraction around the heart muscle. Several days after open-heart surgery, breathing therapists retrain patients to breath diaphragmatically. The process prevents tightening muscles from impeding blood flow and electricity through arteries and nervous system.       
         All creatures are born knowing how to breathe. Infants and toddlers display mid-torso expansion associated with diaphragmatic breathing. High chest breathing occurs by 7 years of age as part of developing stress-alert syndrome. Animals are diaphragmatic breathers. Watch your pets. You’ll see the back side expanding with each breath.
        Descent of the diaphragm demands expansion in the mid-torso, promoting immediate release from contraction. Initially, it’s difficult to expand and breathe diaphragmatically without basic relaxation techniques. The two processes work together. When diaphraphmatic breathing becomes second nature, the uptight response no longer interferes with the process.

Benefits of Diaphragmatic Breathing:
      *Lung expansion occurs in the lower areas of the lungs where oxygen exchange is most efficient.
      *Aids in removing toxins from the lungs.
      *The contracting diaphragm pushes the abdominal organs down and forward which improves circulation and helps move gases out of the stomach and intestines.
     *Radically lowers blood pressure in hypertension and brings relief from high anxiety states.                                                          
      *Frees emotions strongly associated with pelvic region: fear, aggression, and sex.                                                           
      *Releases upper body tension.
      *Produces inner calm and aids concentration.
      *Supports the speaking voice preventing strain to vocal cords.
      *Helps manage physical pain. This is one of the reasons it’s central to La Maze natural birthing technique.

Exercise:

     Lie on the back with knees touching and feet near the hips. The leg position pushes the lower-back to floor and draws energy into the lower-back.
       Throughout the exercise inhale through the nose to a slow 4 count. If this count is difficult do a 3 inhale/6 exhale or 2 inhale/4 exhale. Place one hand on the upper chest and the other hand on the lower abdomen. Inhale and feel the lower abdomen expand. Don’t allow the chest  to move upward toward the neck. Keep the lower-back pushed down against the floor.
      Mentally extend physical boundaries and create a feeling of breathing into a being larger than yourself. The abdominal area never becomes distended, water-melon fashion.
      Close your eyes and think of riding down through the body on the diaphragm platform. Or image a large white disk dropping from the solar-plexus down to the pelvic floor as the inhalation is occurring. Objective of exercise is to breathe without lifting the chest and shoulders. It’s easier to accomplish in a prone position.

Further Comments:

      Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is acknowledged as one of the great spiritual teachers of our time. He focuses on "mindful breathing" throughout his books and videos. He encourages the focus on mindful breathing during all activities - while walking, sitting, working etc. Master Hanh knows mindful breathing is at the heart of all personal transformation.
      Mindful breathing means to be aware of inhalation and exhalation and nothing else. One thinks: I am breathing in; I am breathing out. Every breath brings one back to the here and now. It unifies body and mind and places one in the present moment which is your appointment with life.

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