Practicing breathing techniques, or pranayama, at first glance can seem a little silly. Don’t we all know intuitively how to breathe? It is indeed one of our first acts as humans as we are born into this world, a deep breath often followed by a big crying exhale. When we get stressed, nervous, or anxious, our breath becomes shallow and our heart rate is elevated. This is a useful physical adaptation if you are trying to run away from a bear, but it is less helpful when dealing with frustrations on a daily basis.
I recently got covid for the first time. The symptoms were not horrible, but it was exhausting. Then, on day 7, I struggled to breathe. Long story short, I am better now, but covid exacerbated and triggered my asthma, which until that moment had been mild. When I found breathing difficult, I returned to my pranayama practices. I did not panic and concentrated on my breath. I drew slow, deliberate inhales and exhaled as much as I could. It allowed me not to panic, have a clear mind, give instructions to my family about the situation as best I could, and give the emergency room instructions as best as I could. The thing with asthma is that it is challenging to exhale so it is nearly impossible to communicate with verbal cues. It feels a little like communicating with someone who doesn’t speak the same language and requires great concentration to get your point across.
I am deeply grateful for modern medicine, specifically the team at Harborview Medical Center team in Seattle. They were all phenomenal. I am grateful for people who make inhalers and breathing treatments. I am grateful for generations of humans who have studied breathing in all its forms for science and personal practice. I am also deeply grateful for my yoga training and practice of meditation and pranayama this past year. It made a scary situation palatable.
In a situation where your breath is compromised or indeed in any stressful situation, having a breath practice to turn to can help you stay calm and avoid panic. You can turn to your breath to help calm your mind. When you can’t breathe, it is very easy to panic, making breathing even more difficult. A breath practice helps you come down from flight or flight to be able to think in a situation. You know how flight attendants show you how to put on an oxygen mask in case of emergency? Think of breathing techniques like that, but you will likely be able to use it in some form at least weekly.
If you don’t have a breath practice, consider starting one. I suggest starting with box breathing and also three-part complete yogic breath. They specifically help calm your nervous system and could be useful tools for a stressful day.
Life ebbs and flows, and stressful days will most definitely arise. Consider having a breath that you are comfortable with that you can use to become more centered and bring yourself down closer to baseline. You are worth the energy, time, and effort it takes to develop it. Once you have it, you will notice times when you can share breathing with others, helping them come back to neutral as well.
May you breathe a little easier, friends. Namaste.
