Breathing

[HetHert]

What are some of the breathing techniques you all use as an aid to meditating?

When you do these techniques what are they doing to help you get into the meditative zone?

Are there any other benefits you've noticed to these breathing techniques?

[Astara Seague]

for me I just take slow steady and measured deep breaths in then out

[Thyrsos]

If you are talking about zen meditation, pranayama breathing exercises are crucial.

Even for those who don't meditate, pranayam is incredibly vitalizing, brings fresh oxygen to the brain and I can't recommend it highly enough. Sry I don't have a specific link.

[HetHert]

I'm starting to delve into the diffferent pranayama breathing techniques. I've done a few basic ones. The bellows breath is incredible and the 4-7-8 technique is quite good as well. I've actually done these both right before working out and found my workout was greatly enhanced. I had more energy, stamina, and endurance.

I like the technique that is used to become mindful of the breath itself. It's the one where you shift your focus on the exhale as the leading part of the breath and the inhale as the finishing.

I'm just trying to find some other techniques to try out in my researching and development.

Thanks guys!

[Nitefalle]

I focus on the inhale and exhale as equal to each other, not one leading over the other. I measure them in my head, either three or four counts each (whichever is most comfortable at the time) and it helps take me out of the daily garbage that runs through my head and puts me in the Now, just concentrating on my body. This helps me shift deeper into meditation at a quicker pace. The counting gives me focus so my mind isn't running off on tangents to distract me.

Breathing, no matter how you do it, benefits you physically by helping to reoxygenate your blood stream, pumping iron and lymph to the appropriate places, helping your heart to beat, etc. When you focus on it rather than just breathe shallowly, you breathe fuller breaths, helping your body to run more efficiently. It also helps to calm any tension you are unconsciously holding.

[RainInanna]

To offer a different perspective, I've found maximum benefit in not monitoring or controlling breathing at all. In fact I find it best to simply observe my body breathing at it's own pace for several minutes. As I relax, I'm sure my inhales and exhales do become longer, but I've found surprisingly that *not* counting and controlling are keys for me. I just breathe and observe that breathing.