How to Breathe for meditation

Breathing is a powerful cleansing process that restores and nourishes the body, mind and spirit. It allows us to connect with ourselves through self awareness and tap into our Higher consciousness.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Meditation materials

1. Make sure that you are comfortable and will not be disturbed for at least 2 minutes. Even just 2 minutes of breathing meditation is beneficial for health. If you are new to meditation your initial exercise is going to be concentration and focusing the mind.... Just sit and become aware of your normal breath. Can you feel it passing through your nostrils? Do you inhale longer than you exhale or vice versa? Awareness is going to be the key.

2. Calming Technique : Deep inhalation and exhalation...Full inspiration without holding the breath at the top and easily and fully exhalation without force. Allow your breath to make an ocean sound as you exhale.
   
   Focus Technique: Fully inhaling and exhaling for the same amount of time. Counting while inhaling and then exhaling for an equal count.
   
   Deep Relaxation Technique: Shallow breathing or what is just your regular breath
   
   Exertion Technique: Breathing fully in and holding as long as possible and then Exhaling with a forced exhalation near the end of the breath. This releases tension in the body and actually physically stimulates the body. This one could be done to help you get into a physical state that is ready for exertion through exercise OR it is also beneficial before you practice one of the other breathing meditations.

3. Introducing more oxygen into the body will help you to clear it of toxic thinking, and chemicals. It will help you also open up channels of you consciousness for Heightened conscious awareness. Your thinking will be clearer, you will be more aware of your body, and better able to sense what you and others around you need.

Tips & Warnings

• A healthy breathing practice will bring many positive changes to your life and that of others. You will have a healthy mind, body and spirit.
• You are going to sleep better and regularly... so if you are used to functioning without sleep, you are going to find sleep a restorative process that takes up alot of your time. Don't worry... with your clearer thinking you will become so efficient you will wonder what you were doing in all that time you could have been relaxing!!!

[Lilfix]

on 1/7/2009 meditation breathing is something I have always wanted to try...thanks... 5*

[vikki9]

on 12/2/2008 Thank you for this information about focused breathing.

[sunshine11219]

on 11/30/2008 GOOD TIPS

[steph275]

on 10/11/2008 I liked that you stated a specific time (2 minutes). Thanks for writing this.

[writesource]

on 9/19/2008 Yes, deep breating is very powerful. I use it to relieve stress and find inspiration.