Used for millennia as a gateway to self-mastery and a tool for self-healing, self-awareness and self-realisation, the breath sits at the centre of what determines real, and unreal. Harnessing the breath gives you the power to reshape the mind and body, bend space and time and extend your life. Most of us never pay attention to the way we breathe and haven't the faintest clue that the way we breathe impacts every single facet of our life on earth. From how well our body functions, to our moods, our chemistry, our relationships and the career we choose; our breath is a compass for the direction we take in life. When you breathe your body takes in vital oxygen which ignites the cells in your body - helping them to release energy and drive the activities of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. The balance of the inhalation and the exhalation is vital to the stability of the brain and the body and your life - because your internal imbalances become your external ones as well - a balanced breath keeps a balanced mind. Pranayama is as an esoteric and energetic practice with a range of techniques that enhance your physiology and your psychology. Some methods can warm you up, cool you down, keep you alert, put you to sleep and keep you alive without the need for food and water. Pranic practices have the potential to alter your sensory perceptions, your biology and keep you in suspended animation - with some yogis like Sadguru, sitting for 12 days in a trance without food and water. Along with the potential to transcend the mind and the physical body - Pranayama practices have the potential to upgrade your mental software, increasing your intelligence and your awareness and lead you to the path of spiritual enlightenment. The Science of The Yogic Breath

Sundar Balasubramanian | TEDxCharleston

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIfwbEvXtwo&list=PL9uvtvecXuuAMLT2S66K8k3bRTAd9DEIP Rather than examining what takes your breath away, Sundar Balasubramanian, a radiation oncology researcher studies what breath gives you. A deep breath relaxes, and he explains it creates significant beneficial changes in physiologically relevant biomarkers. Guest Contributor: Emily Rack Business Name: Horatio’s Jar Publisher: Digital Schools Emily Rack is a yoga teacher, meditation instructor, freelance writer and visual content creator. She incorporates a unique creative flair into her yoga and meditation classes, courses and workshops. Emily hosts events and classes in schools and the wider community & is passionate about teaching the art of mindfulness. ——- PUBLISHER’S DISCLAIMER: The publisher of this blog post (Digital Schools PTY LTD) works in partnership with the school as a 3rd party provider to help build and maintain the school website. Digital Schools sources a range of experts who provide products and/or services to educational institutions and we work with them to produce and publish topical information in the form of blog posts that we think  may be relevant, interesting or topical to families within the community. The views, opinions and content listed in this blog post are that of the guest contributor and/or publisher (Digital Schools). It should be noted that whilst the publisher and guest contributors are acting with the best intentions and in the best interests of the school and their community to provide helpful or interesting information, sometimes the content may not necessarily reflect the views of the school. The information in this blog post is not meant to be used, nor should it be used, to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem, consult your own physician.  The school and the publisher of this blog post  are not responsible for any person reading or following the information in this article who may experience adverse effects. Any references to external websites or sources are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement by the school or publisher in any way and the publisher and/or school cannot guarantee accuracy of information listed. If you have feedback on any content on this platform, you can submit it to the publisher using the feedback link provided at the bottom of this page.