“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts.” Thich Nhat Hanh quotes
Breath is the most important mind body link. It's a fifty-fifty proposition between the body and mind! One does not function without the other and breath is the bridge. In many cultures the word spirit and breath are derived from the same word. Without breath we have no life!
In Meditation the breath is what grounds and centers us. It's the beginning place for our meditative journey. When you are truly in a meditative state your breath becomes slow and smooth. Thus breathing is a conscious and unconscious act...one of the few processes of this type in the body!
There are many benefits to regulating your breath from stress reduction to lower blood pressure and its an aid in being non-reactive. When your breath is flowing from the deep well inside of you it slows down the emotion firing principles in the brain.
Try using a breath focused meditation! There are literally hundres of techniques to choose from. Just try breathing in and out slowly - you can add a short hold to the top of the inhalation and repeat the process ten times. After you've centered yourself try just following the breath in and out with your minds eye.
