Alternative and Complementary
With Every Breath We Take
By: Tracy Zuckerman
With every breath we take, oxygen rich air flows through our lungs into the bloodstream, nourishing our bodies. From birth, breathing calms, nurtures, consoles and brings us back into the moment – the here and now. When pain strikes, we are caught off guard and our bodies react by increasing our heart rates while our breathing becomes shallow. It is our own fight or flight system engaging. This is our body's way of going into defense mode to protect against the unknown fear of when pain could strike. Breathing is as involuntary activity controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system which is located in the lower part of the brain. Often times, when pain is chronic it is difficult to turn off that "fight or flight" response and slow our breathing.
Long, deliberate breaths will slow down the pace and the race we get into when we are in pain. I have learned to practice such breathing techniques and use them to help me cope with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS, formerly know as reflex sympathetic dystrophy or RSD), the chronic pain condition that I have lived with for eight years.
Inspiration is the inhaling in of a breath while expiration is the exhalation – the letting go and pushing out of the air that has filled up inside of our lungs. The task or exercise of slowing your breathing takes patience and continued practice. You can modify as needed to complete this at your own pace. My yoga teacher always says, "Simple basic movements can make a profound difference in your body and mind."
It is essential to develop your own relaxation method and practice it daily. Try staying in the moment, and think of your body breathing in and out slowly while you try to control the inhalations and exhalations. You can even close your eyes; this might help you to stay more focused. Count in your head to ensure you are taking measured even breaths. For example, close your eyes and slowly count to four as you take a deep breath in. Hold the breath in to the count of four and let it out slowly to the count of four. Let the counting to the numbers guide you through this moment in time. Your mind might be thinking of other things – that's okay, but just keep bringing yourself back to the slow breathing and counting. It will take some time for you to get comfortable with this. It is important to do breathing exercises like this in a comfortable and quiet place. You will only need a few minutes as you begin practicing your breathing. Later, you can increase the duration of time as you feel more comfortable .
Learning to control your breath will acquaint you with a variety of experiences. Disciplining your mind is a great neurological exercise. You will find yourself listening to the whisper of air going in and out of your body. Even when your thoughts are wandering, focusing on your breathing will bring you back into the moment if you let it. Try the breathing sitting still or laying down and you will start to recognize different positions that provide more comfort to your body.
Focusing on breathing will nourish your soul and open your mind to relaxing in the here and now. Life is not always what we anticipate it to be so when you are living with chronic pain its important to adjust and readjust constantly to the ongoing challenges that we live with. Chronic pain is a persistent condition, but we can control the type of breathing that we do and help ourselves cope with our body's response to pain. Become an advocate for your own health today. Start by focusing on the breath you take.
Long, deliberate breaths will slow down the pace and the race we get into when we are in pain. I have learned to practice such breathing techniques and use them to help me cope with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS, formerly know as reflex sympathetic dystrophy or RSD), the chronic pain condition that I have lived with for eight years.
Inspiration is the inhaling in of a breath while expiration is the exhalation – the letting go and pushing out of the air that has filled up inside of our lungs. The task or exercise of slowing your breathing takes patience and continued practice. You can modify as needed to complete this at your own pace. My yoga teacher always says, "Simple basic movements can make a profound difference in your body and mind."
It is essential to develop your own relaxation method and practice it daily. Try staying in the moment, and think of your body breathing in and out slowly while you try to control the inhalations and exhalations. You can even close your eyes; this might help you to stay more focused. Count in your head to ensure you are taking measured even breaths. For example, close your eyes and slowly count to four as you take a deep breath in. Hold the breath in to the count of four and let it out slowly to the count of four. Let the counting to the numbers guide you through this moment in time. Your mind might be thinking of other things – that's okay, but just keep bringing yourself back to the slow breathing and counting. It will take some time for you to get comfortable with this. It is important to do breathing exercises like this in a comfortable and quiet place. You will only need a few minutes as you begin practicing your breathing. Later, you can increase the duration of time as you feel more comfortable .
Learning to control your breath will acquaint you with a variety of experiences. Disciplining your mind is a great neurological exercise. You will find yourself listening to the whisper of air going in and out of your body. Even when your thoughts are wandering, focusing on your breathing will bring you back into the moment if you let it. Try the breathing sitting still or laying down and you will start to recognize different positions that provide more comfort to your body.
Focusing on breathing will nourish your soul and open your mind to relaxing in the here and now. Life is not always what we anticipate it to be so when you are living with chronic pain its important to adjust and readjust constantly to the ongoing challenges that we live with. Chronic pain is a persistent condition, but we can control the type of breathing that we do and help ourselves cope with our body's response to pain. Become an advocate for your own health today. Start by focusing on the breath you take.