The Air We Breathe

"The body is the subconscious mind. The body is the seat of our emotions."
 -Erica Boucher of Empath Yoga

Recently, I went to a conference on the mind-body connection, something I am passionate about as a massage therapist. I believe strongly that the subconscious is a powerful motivator in our daily lives.

Here's something I learned from Erica Boucher, creator of Empath Yoga an international yoga training program:

Just five minutes of deep breathing can bring healing to our bodies.

Many of us breathe with shallow breath which only reaches to our solar plexus (located at the bottom of the sternum). It is here that a bundle of nerves is engaged which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. This system is our "fight or flight" response.

When we breathe deeply, into the lower abdomen then to the upper abdomen and finally the lungs, we engage the sacrum (our tailbone) where the nerves there
are related to the parasympathetic nervous system. This is our body’s relaxation response.

So, by deep breathing, if even for a few minutes, our body has no choice but to relax. We can then think clearer, reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

The Law of Impressed Thought states that every thought and idea has a physical impression on the body.

In the body, we store emotions and trauma. This is done subconsciously and it is through deep breathing that we allow our breath to reach these hidden areas and heal them.

Breath is powerful. It is life sustaining and when we inhibit that life force we create havoc in ourselves.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or even just disconnected, take a few moments and just b-r-e-a-t-h-e.