While we breathe subconsciously, is there a benefit to monitor our breathing patterns and be conscious about it? When the thought triggered during a Yoga session, thought I will probe further. Sharing what I realized over a period of time!

1. Do you breathe through your nose or mouth?

Being conscious about our breathing helps us realize whether we are breathing through our nose or sometimes through our mouth. Those who are busy and goal-oriented, tend to switch over to breathing through their mouths if their nose is blocked. This reduces oxygen circulation to our brains, whereby reducing our ability to focus & concentrate, remember stuff during exams etc.

2. Relax your mind

When you are super-stressed out, angry, agitated or extremely upset, switch the focus to your breathing pattern. You will be breathing heavily. Noticing & observing this helps you remind yourselves to take a few deep breaths and relax your mind. These emotions increases the rate of blood flow to your brain and cloud our thoughts and communication. Calming our minds down before communicating with others helps.

3. Clear negative thoughts

Not every day is the same, and it is not possible to fill our entire day with positive thoughts. Negative thoughts triggered by events around us are natural. Taking a few deep breaths and monitoring our breathing patterns helps clear our negative thoughts and focus on the issue at hand, and not the noise that comes with it.

4. Improve sleeping patterns

Drink a glass of water, consciously practice deep breathing for 2-3 minutes before going to sleep. See your sleep patterns improve within a few days. Aids in better circulation during sleep.

5. Improve self-confidence

When we take responsibility of our breathing and are conscious about it, we inherently are taking responsibility to regulate it when it going out of pattern. Our attention to detail increases, and over time when we are able to control the patterns when they change, and switch our moods, our self-confidence increases. We would feel that we have the ability to improve our own health. That feeling is great, it comes with a LOT of hope to improve our health.

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.

– Thich Nhat Hanh