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As I continue to work with clients and my own body, I continue to receive confirmation on how important it is for each of us to be increasingly responsible for our own health.   Learning how to live in your body is a path that deepens and widens as you continue on your unique life’s journey.

From the first time we inhale to our very last exhale, it is clear that breathing is intimately tied to life.  The breath accompanies us through every experience of our lives.  While many know how important breathing is there still is a shortage on how often we apply intentional breathing techniques to our everyday life.  Practicing intentional breathing has tremendous applications to increase health and improve quality of life. Most people have decided that since the body automatically breathes, “I don’t have to”.

While the body will maintain the basic breathing needed for survival it will no longer provide you the deep full breathing that you once experienced as a child.  If you watch the way a young child breathes, it is their belly’s that move during respiration.  The breath of most adults usually occurs in the chest area.

The simple action of intentionally breathing on a daily basis has significant impact upon the body and mind.   Deep breathing reduces blood pressure and heart rate.  The deeper we breathe the more each of the millions of cells in our bodies receives the nutrients that are needed not just for survival but for quality of life. 

There is nothing like a deep full breath to clear your head.  Several full breaths will calm your emotions and energize your body.  Want to lose fat – breathe (the body cannot burn fat without oxygen).  Want to improve your performance in the gym – breathe. Stuck in a rut – breathe. Need more patience - breathe.  Can’t think of way out – breathe. Want to get calm – breathe.  Can’t sleep – breathe. Need to focus - breathe.  Continual daily deep breathing will quite simply change your life.  

So, why aren’t more people taking the time to breathe if it’s so important? The challenge is that in our fast paced society, breathing actually takes time away from thinking thoughts.  Constantly thinking is habitual and considered valuable otherwise how else does one navigate life?

Thinking is an investment in energy and time. It is a responsibility that we were given without truly understanding its nature. What we think affects our bodies’ health, and emotional states.  It can reduce or revitalize daily energy or color your perception of your world and yourself.  The question is what do you spend your time thinking about? 

Do you find yourself enjoying your mind’s habit of focusing on what can go wrong in your world or other anxiety producing thoughts?  Do you ever find yourself saying, “I wish I could just stop thinking.”? Changing the track of the mind is accomplished by interrupting thoughts through focusing your attention on the experience of your breathing.  This brings you into the NOW. 

What do you enjoy about living?  What brings you pleasure?  Whatever turns you on is experienced through the body that you live in.  No body, no pleasure.  Taking the time to breathe into your body not only connects you deeper to your body and improves your ability to experience pleasure but it also provides your mind an opportunity to rest.  Like any finely tuned instrument it too needs a time to be idle. 

Taking the time to intentionally breathe everyday can be a physical, mental and emotional reboot that provides you a significant return on your investment to your life. 

To learn how to practice this technique, visit http://www.thefitpath.com/intentionalrelaxation.asp

 Mr. Sheldon Ginsberg President of FitPath Health Services holds a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science from State University of New York at Buffalo.  In addition, he has obtained advanced certification as a Strength and Conditioning Coach from the National Strength and Conditioning Association and he is also a 12th level Reiki Master Teacher.  To learn more you can visit www.thefitpath.net or call 305-785-2936.

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