In this episode, we look at the importance of paying attention to the breath. We focus on the health benefits of mindful breathing and offer some helpful techniques. Please feel free to leave a comment below, and or add to the conversation. Thanks for reading!

Greetings Everyone, Welcome to the podcast “Close to the Bone.” I’m Carl Vreeland.

This is episode #53, it’s called, “Breathing.”

Mindful breathing has changed my life thoroughly. I’m healthier, more relaxed, and more present. Mindful breathing helped me get sober and clean, and continues to help me stay sober and clean. Mindful breathing aided me in breaking a twenty-five year old cigarette smoking habit. Mindful breathing soothes my nervous system, eases my anxiety. It massages and tones my insides. My vital organs are happier and healthier. It supports my digestive system. It oxygenates my body, gets my blood flowing. It energizes me and calms me. And as the young kids say, “it burns off the crazies.” Whenever I get bothered, it prevents me from getting angry. And sometimes, if I do get angry, it helps me let go of anger more quickly. Mindful breathing connects me to my True Nature and to the Divine.

 Before coming upon mindful breathing, I never paid much attention to my breath. That is, unless I was forced to, like when swimming or when sprinting during the last minute of a thirty minute run, let’s say. Or when I was younger and experienced panic-attacks and had to take deep, slow breaths. Which is what the doctors prescribe, “OK, OK, take a few deep breaths, calm down, relax, everything is going to be all right. Slow down your breath, breathe deeply, breathe deeply into your lungs.” Other than those few exceptions, well, I would just breath. I mean, it happens automatically; we don’t have to think about it. But as I later learned, not paying attention to the breath can lead to health problems. Now, I can go into the many scientific reasons as to why this is so, but I’ll spare you, and only throw out a few. Of course, if this podcast episode sparks your interest about the subject, there is plenty of information on the internet. Additionally, if you have any medical issues, respiratory issues, please consult your doctor before doing any of the following suggestive exercises.

So, what exactly is mindful breathing? Well, it’s focused breathing. In other words, paying attention to the breath. That’s basically it. Of course, there are different breathing techniques as well. There is deep, diaphragmatic breathing, alternate nostril breathing, three-part breathing, and more. Typically, with few exceptions, we breath in and out of the nose. This is because our nasal system is set up in a way that, among other things, filters, humidifies, and warms the breath as to prepare it to enter the lungs. Indeed, there are many reasons why mindful breathing is