Practice Conscious Breathwork to Let Go of the Negative Emotions
Breathing is the essential part of our life.
Right from the day, we take birth till we leave the Earth, each one of us breathes to live. Without breath, our existence is nil. We are aware that life is absolutely dependent upon the act of breathing but, what we fail to realize is our emotions and consciousness are interconnected with breathing.
Our breath is controlled by our thoughts.
The way in which we breathe is affected by how we feel. The state of emotions like the rapid pant of excitement, or short sobs, or the deep groans of frustration are a few examples of breath patterns affected by emotions. The positive thoughts mean calm breath and the negative thoughts mean restless, rapid or fast breath.
If the emotions can change the pattern of breath, the conscious change of breathing pattern can also control or change emotions, and it perfectly makes sense. Isn’t it? Unconscious breathing patterns can lead to overpowering of energy flow and emotions. Thus, it is wise to be conscious of the breath and how it impacts all areas of the body, mind, and soul.
Our breathing should be full and free, not stuck or blocked, or locked into any set pattern.
It should be alive, responsive, changing, fluid, flowing. In other words, we need to cultivate the habit of tuning into our breathing—observing it, paying attention to it. We need to do this at different times, during different activities— in order to learn how breathing effects and how is it affected by physical activities as well as our emotional and psychological states.
Our breath is like an anchor that supports and helps us to control it and become conscious of the various facets of energy and emotions within the body.
Our breathing system is the only system which is voluntary and involuntary that is, it can be changed at our will. We can breathe through the nose as well as the mouth, though the normal route is the nose. It can be used as a tool, a force, or a bridge to get freedom from our tied up negative energies within the body.
In order for any living organism to survive and stay healthy, it must eliminate wastes. In our case, 3% of metabolic waste is eliminated through defecation; 7% through urination; 20% through perspiration; and a whopping 70% through Respiration!
How do you breathe when you are feeling calm, peaceful and content?
How do you breathe when you are upset, angry, afraid or in pain?
Every psychological, emotional and physiological state has a corresponding breathing pattern or quality. When the emotional state changes, breathing pattern changes automatically.
The breath is a bridge to consciously release the negative energies from our body and mind. By breathing consciously, we can become aware and experience the functioning of the mystical consciousness. The breathing has an important role in creating a physical and emotional wellbeing. Through conscious breathing, we can get to know ourselves, our different goals in life and we can also improve our health.
What is unconscious breathing?
Unconscious breathing is the natural pattern of breathing. It is the automatic and responsive pattern that we cannot change as per our will. The unconscious breathing is coordinated or impacted by our emotions. Like, when we are in a state of pain, we hold our breath. When we are afraid or shocked, we hold our breath. It is natural and we don’t do it consciously.
When the pain goes away, or the fear passes, we automatically get a sigh of relief! We don’t make it happen, we don’t think about it. It happens by itself. It is unconscious breathing. It is naturally triggered by the positive change in our state. For instance, when we experience emotions like anger, fear, guilt, and shame, it can restrict our breathing.
Relaxation and tension cannot be experienced at the same time at the same place. Have you ever seen a person who was locked in tremendous pain or paralyzed by fear take a big soothing sigh of relief?
When we try holding back an emotion or their expression, we usually hold our breath. This way of “dealing” with emotion starts at an early age. It is always said that babies breathe naturally or perfectly. In fact, a small baby has not yet completely developed all of his or her breathing muscles. But yes, they do breathe naturally.
In other words, they have not learned to interfere with their nature. But, when they start experiencing shocks and traumas and fears and pains, changes begin to happen: inhibitions, blocks, etc. occur in the breathing. Tensions, fear, pain, or any such physical or psychological-emotional state can restrict the breathing and interfere the natural flow of the breath.
Breathwork can be used as a healing therapy to release traumas.
It is our own breath that can act as the natural medicine to heal and recover from early childhood events that inhibit our spirit.
What do we understand by the conscious breathing?
Our breathing system is both voluntary and involuntary in nature. We can control it as per our will. When we make changes in the depth and the duration of inhalation or exhalation, it is called the conscious breathing.
The emotions, breathing, and consciousness is connected with each other; as the breathing pattern is different on different emotional and consciousness levels. In effect, the emotions have an influence on the breathing and therefore, our breathing can influence our emotions.
Conscious breathing can influence the transformations within oneself. Our pain can appear from the physical level and be transformed into pleasant sensations. The negative emotions can surface and be accepted and integrated into various levels of our consciousness. We may also have insights into the spiritual aspects of our life.
The conscious breathing makes us aware of our instinctive beliefs and emotions, and also our relationships with our body, ourselves, and the world.
When we consciously breathe with this awareness, we make it possible to resolve, integrate, and heal previously unresolved issues. Thus, we get released from our previously tied up negative emotions, thoughts, patterns, and behaviours.
There are certain breathing patterns or rhythms or qualities associated with highly ecstatic blissful states; and when you learn those and practice them, you can reach the high peak states at will!
Through breathwork, we are able to generate more energy, to accumulate it, channelize it, and distribute it.
And so when we breathe consciously, we become more powerful and creative! We also use the breath to let go of tension and release blocks to creative energy. We can use the breath to release limited and negative programs and conditioning.
To sum up, we can say that the conscious and deep breathing process can bridge the gap between the unconscious and conscious mind and make a path for us to see a new beginning, exploring the transparent philosophies and beliefs of life. It simplifies the complexities and allows us to experience every emotion positively.