THE WAY OF THE BREATH






Breathing is something that most of us take for granted, and never think twice about (unless you're a smoker).... But the breath, and learning to breathe correctly, is critical to not only one's spiritual evolution, but one's overall health and well-being.
  Watch any infant breathe, and you will see the true nature of the breath, as the air is drawn all the way down by distending the abdomen.... this is the key to proper breathing, bringing the air all the way in, filling the lungs completely by distending the abdominal wall outwards. This is called belly breathing, or the Buddha breath.
  You can practice this by lying on your back in bed, and placing one hand on your chest, and the other hand on your belly. ONLY the hand on your belly should rise and fall as you breathe.... for most people, this will require practice. Done often enough, it will become natural, second nature in fact. You will increase the oxygenation of your blood, and your respiration rate should drop. There are also breathing exercises one can do, such as nadi shodhana and "fire" breath, as well as many others.... learning to breath "properly" is the first step of any spiritual practice....
     PLEASE SEE:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmi6sNG9ttM