Synchronizing breathing and being

The motion of Air in and out of your body is a must if you want to stay alive, but hidden assets exist in this seemingly monotonous movement of gasses. By managing your breath, you can impact internal body processes and better respond to external changes. This can give you advantages.

Most likely, you are covered by some insurance, which adds to your peace of mind. Similarly, having effective breathing techniques to assist during challenging situations can grant tranquility. You know these thoughts of, ‘What should I do now?’ Many times, breathing can provide a quick answer.  Sometimes, we know a wave is about to break on us, and we have time to prepare. On other occasions, out of the blue, we find ourselves in difficult or even impossible circumstances. That’s when a breathing response can save the day.

A ‘breathing tool’ is one or a few techniques combined to respond in real-time to improve a situation. Such a tool helps treat symptoms rather than the root cause; it’s used for intervention rather than prevention.

Working tools and breathing tools have some things in common, they’re both devices that can improve productivity. For example, using scissors or a kitchen garlic press makes household tasks easier. Likewise, using breathing tools can ease your daily chores. Breathing tools can also help with complex issues–relieve pain, and alleviate emotional turmoil. By using them, it’s possible to reduce medicine doses, shorten recovery time, increase confidence, and many other functions.

In the following pages, you’ll find a variety of breathing tools for responding to situations such as stress, anxiety, depression, and other challenging mental states. You’ll understand what changes in your breathing can help when trying to memorize, recall, concentrate, or reach an important decision.

Awaiting in the book are extraordinary tools for assisting in falling asleep, improving sleep quality, and, conversely, staying awake when needed. Other presented tools can help when struggling with food cravings, an urge to smoke cigarettes, or when attempting to control sexual desires. You will learn how to manage your breathing muscles to stimulate digestion when constipated and how to breathe for a bowel movement slowdown when you need to discharge and there’s no toilet around. Some of the tools separate between subtle situation nuances. For example, how to breathe when feeling carsick and why the breathing equations change when feeling seasick. Breathing tools can also assist in ‘spicy situations.’ After reading, it will become clear how to breathe when experiencing a mouth-chilly burn and why to breathe precisely the opposite when overdosing on wasabi or horseradish.

Most suggested breathing tools are for everyday situations, but some are for rarer events. For instance, how to breathe when trapped in a confined space with dwindling air or when losing blood.

Unlike other tools we collect while we’re alive, breathing tools can assist until the very end, even when lying on a deathbed.

Practicing using breathing tools

Like other skills you’ve probably acquired, using breathing tools is a learnable skill; practice is needed to use them effectively.

There’s a fundamental difference between breathing ‘exercises’ and ‘tools.’ Exercises are meant to prepare for the future, while tools are used to improve or solve a situation in the present. This book’s term ‘breathing practices’ includes both.

Breathing practices = Exercisesfuture + Toolspresent

People exercise with different goals: to improve their health, performance, or dexterity (mastery). Choosing and focusing on a single goal is more likely to bring the desired results. For example, if you exercise with the single goal of mastering a breathing tool, you’re more likely to use it under challenging circumstances.

Exercising doesn’t necessarily need to be formal, with time allocated just for practicing, it can also be informal, combined with other activities, such as taking a walk or listening to music.

Most breathing tools seem easy to operate. As a result, some people skip the necessary preparations and first try to use a tool when a live situation arises. Sometimes, it works, but in most cases, it doesn’t. Being aware of the tendency to skip preparations can help avoid this pitfall.

Exercising takes time, a precious commodity. Obsession, overambition, and unrealistic expectations can prevent success. You know the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” Aiming for sustained progress instead of perfection often produces a better outcome.

 Many people these days look for quick fixes, hacks, and bypasses. As a result, short recipes and superficial solutions are abundantly offered. Furthermore, minimal practicing is expected to produce noticeable, positive outcomes quickly! However, learning, practicing, and fine-tuning are time-consuming. Authentic achievements usually materialize through effort.

Even if you prepare and test effective breathing tools, it’s uncertain whether you’ll remember to use them when challenges present themselves. People often forget to use breathing tools when there is an intense distraction. Exercising makes it more likely that you’ll use a breathing tool at the moment of truth.

So, by exercising, you can prepare effective breathing tools and use them with minimal hesitation.