Let's Take a Breather...

I remember 'The Hare and the Tortoise' story of my childhood where we're told a life lesson of being slow and steady. Life has changed a lot over the years, we have started thinking differently, our perspective has taken a 360 degrees turn. People advocate the idea of being fast and furious in today's cut-throat world.

Looking at the story from a different angle, I derived something novel and fascinating. A rabbit breathes 30-60 times per minute and lives a life of 6 years, whereas a tortoise takes 4-5 breaths per minute and lives 150 years. Does it ring a bell in your minds? Eureka! breathe slowly and live longer!

Yes, speed does matter a lot in the present world but not everywhere. Have you ever experienced a kind of tension, a strain in your body, and when you go to a doctor and get all the check-ups under the sun done, you see everything is normal? And your face falls, and you repent for the colossal destruction done to your hard-earned money. 

Many of us think breathing is an involuntary action, we don't have to work on it. That's where we are wrong! At times, when we are engrossed in some work or overthinking, we forget to breathe properly, meaning, we don't inhale enough air, our body strives for more oxygen, eventually, causing pain. Therefore, we feel drained out and depressed when there is work pressure or we dislike something happening in our lives. On the contrary, when we are happy and relaxed we breathe slowly and deeply providing as much oxygen as needed by our organs and in turn helping our body to be comfortable and pain free. 

Slow and conscious breathing is affirming ourselves and embracing our present. While inhaling we take in positive energy that the universe is abound in. Most of the times either we dwell in past or we ponder over future, overlooking our present exuding lack of harmony between our inner and outer world. Being at present is the best gift that we can give to ourselves, and proper breathing ensures that we are in tune with our surroundings. We need to inhale each and every moment consciously, and let the positivity seep in and expel out negativity rejuvenating ourselves every second. We change every moment, what we're at this moment we'll not be the same next moment. Today will not be same tomorrow, it will become yesterday. So, let's live our Today! Let's breathe and savor our Present!

I happened to be with many spiritual gurus just trying and understanding what this meditation is all about, as listening to so much about it from everywhere aroused inquisitiveness in me. And I found something common in them, irrespective of their ideologies, they emphasize on keeping a watch on our breathing rhythm. Having a track of it calms our brain and stops it from racing away, eventually, harmonizing our inner world with the outer leading serenity and calmness.

Nowadays, yoga asanas are in vogue. People from far and wide are inclined to learn pranayama to make themselves content and healthy. Pranayams are nothing but breathing management having various breathing techniques that ensures every organ of our body gets sufficient nourishment through air and in turn works efficiently. Thus, the fuel to our body is the air that we breathe in! Not only does breathing management detoxify our body, but also our mind by expelling all the negative emotions out from us. Therefore, slow and conscious breathing is the key to live a long, happy and healthy life!! And once again our long learnt lesson proves its credibility! Slow and steady wins the RACE!!