I love it when modern science catches up with ancient practice. How we breathe is getting more attention, in part thanks to writer and researcher James Nestor, and his new book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art. Breathing has become a focus during this pandemic, when a respiratory virus can so quickly take away what we most take for granted. We adjusted to breathing under our masks, and held our breath in public places, fearful of sharing air with strangers. Most poignant, the basic right to breath was stolen from some based on the colour of their skin. George Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe!” became a mournful rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.
This very disconnect with our breath, however, is what is keeping us unwell. “Our noses are our first line of defence and so few of us tend to use them today,” says Nestor. Since reading this article on his research, I’ve made wearing my mask in public a mindfulness practice, breathing in through my nostrils, trusting the cilia (the tiny hairs in my nose) to filter out dust, allergens and bacteria.
Pranayama is one of the eight limbs of yoga, and is translated from the Sanskrit as breath control. Prana, or life force energy, travels through the body via thousands of tiny channels, or nadis, nourishing every cell. Our breath is said to be the source of our prana. By practicing pranayama, we increase and tone the energy in our bodies. We yogis are taught to breathe through the nose. I teach my students to listen to the sound of the air coming in and out of their nostrils, lulling the mind like the sound of waves on the ocean.
Isn’t it nice to know that you’re doing your body so much good by doing something as simple as nose breathing? According to Nestor, “Mouth breathing can cause poor oxygen concentration in the bloodstream, which can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems, sleep apnea and other medical issues, a link backed up by considerable research...” The nose also produces nitric oxide which has antiviral properties and scientists are researching it as a treatment for COVID-19.
Stop what you’re doing. Place both feet on the floor. Take a deep breath, right now. Inhale through the nose. Exhale through the nose. How do you feel? This simple act of conscious breathing is the path to mindfulness, to presence, even to joy. No matter what is going on in your life, focusing on the breath can bring you back into the present moment, lower anxiety, nourish and detoxify your body, and lift your spirits. Bonus, it’s free!
