Relaxation Breathing - How it Affects the Chemistry of Your Brain
Even though the Age of Aquarius was supposed to bring peace and a better life, that clearly isn't happening.
The world is more confusing and violent than ever.
People are lucky to not be involved in some kind of conflict or violence, let alone have inner peace.
Still, some of us who are lucky enough to live in relative security and leisure are doing our best to be agents of peace and wisdom in the world.
One of the ways to achieve this kind of self-transformation is through meditation.
There are lots of meditation aids out there, from special mats to weekend classes to (controversially) certain prohibited substances.
Even so, one of the most effective, natural ways to open your mind and increase the effectiveness of your meditation is through the regulation of your breathing.
The well-known effects of breath control-especially deep breathing or yoga breathing-concern increased concentration and calmness.
However, there are some other, more technical aspects to the benefits of better breathing.
You will also be stimulating your body's production of the chemicals serotonin and dopamine.
Now, such chemicals, or the lack thereof, are often discussed in connection to depression, or even serious disorders and insanity.
However, we can take the word "depression" to mean other things than feeling very sad or down for long periods of time.
If your thoughts and emotions are "depressed," they are pressed down and constricted.
You are too wrapped up inside the prison of your own head, kept from relating with the universe and reaching your true potential.
Besides regulating your mood, serotonin also helps you to understand society better, especially in an intuitive way that lets you pick up on the nuance of situations.
Society is definitely a worthy topic of meditation, especially if you want to understand its problems better, and find out ways to contribute to its betterment.
Dopamine, on the other hand, helps you to recall and analyze things, and also to keep focused.
You will be able to call up things to meditate on, and to keep your mind on them despite distractions.
Clearly, both these chemical are necessary factors to consider when examining your meditation practices.
Now, it might seem odd to be talking too much about brain chemicals.
Why talk pharmaceuticals and chemistry when we are concerned with spiritual development? Do not forget that the body and spirit are intimately connected, no matter what certain philosophies and religious (mis)interpretations would have us believe.
This is why people meditate in a certain position or avoid certain foods in order to tend to their souls.
If some of your brain chemicals are unbalanced, you might still be able to have a deep connection with reality.
However, it will be much easier if your brain is functioning as nature intended.
You can improve or restore your body's balance of these chemicals through better breathing.
Instead of purchasing paraphernalia, try to direct your attention to the way your body functions, and watch a whole new world open before your mind's eye.
The world is more confusing and violent than ever.
People are lucky to not be involved in some kind of conflict or violence, let alone have inner peace.
Still, some of us who are lucky enough to live in relative security and leisure are doing our best to be agents of peace and wisdom in the world.
One of the ways to achieve this kind of self-transformation is through meditation.
There are lots of meditation aids out there, from special mats to weekend classes to (controversially) certain prohibited substances.
Even so, one of the most effective, natural ways to open your mind and increase the effectiveness of your meditation is through the regulation of your breathing.
The well-known effects of breath control-especially deep breathing or yoga breathing-concern increased concentration and calmness.
However, there are some other, more technical aspects to the benefits of better breathing.
You will also be stimulating your body's production of the chemicals serotonin and dopamine.
Now, such chemicals, or the lack thereof, are often discussed in connection to depression, or even serious disorders and insanity.
However, we can take the word "depression" to mean other things than feeling very sad or down for long periods of time.
If your thoughts and emotions are "depressed," they are pressed down and constricted.
You are too wrapped up inside the prison of your own head, kept from relating with the universe and reaching your true potential.
Besides regulating your mood, serotonin also helps you to understand society better, especially in an intuitive way that lets you pick up on the nuance of situations.
Society is definitely a worthy topic of meditation, especially if you want to understand its problems better, and find out ways to contribute to its betterment.
Dopamine, on the other hand, helps you to recall and analyze things, and also to keep focused.
You will be able to call up things to meditate on, and to keep your mind on them despite distractions.
Clearly, both these chemical are necessary factors to consider when examining your meditation practices.
Now, it might seem odd to be talking too much about brain chemicals.
Why talk pharmaceuticals and chemistry when we are concerned with spiritual development? Do not forget that the body and spirit are intimately connected, no matter what certain philosophies and religious (mis)interpretations would have us believe.
This is why people meditate in a certain position or avoid certain foods in order to tend to their souls.
If some of your brain chemicals are unbalanced, you might still be able to have a deep connection with reality.
However, it will be much easier if your brain is functioning as nature intended.
You can improve or restore your body's balance of these chemicals through better breathing.
Instead of purchasing paraphernalia, try to direct your attention to the way your body functions, and watch a whole new world open before your mind's eye.
