How breathing affects our concentration

It's one of the biggest mistakes we make when doing sports. We should adapt our breathing according to the effort given and maintain a constant rhythm; with some practice, it's easy to master our breathing.
How breathing affects our concentration

Last update: 16 November, 2018

Patanjali, the wise man, considers concentration to be the sixth step in the path to enlightenment. We must learn what happens to us on the inside, and the only way to do this is through rigorous training. Breathing while concentrating is an efficient and natural exercise to help keep our minds quiet and focus on an idea or object.

By practicing these breathing exercises daily, it’s possible to sustain concentration for extended periods of time. In Patanjali’s yoga, once we achieve a state of intense focus, meditative contemplation can also be obtained.

The use of breathing while concentrating

It may seem complicated, but the only hard part is starting. In yoga, pranayama controls our respiration. By becoming aware of each exhalation and inhalation, our body becomes lighter. The fog of our inner world, often loaded with constant and scattered thoughts, dissipates.

On the other hand, controlling your breathing while concentrating, is essential to enjoying high levels of energy throughout the day. Someone who is overwhelmed with different emotions will look depressed and sad. As we know, happiness and intelligence don’t always go hand in hand.

Most importantly, we must take care of the relationship between our body, mind, and spirit. And, our breath is the channel that allows our body to communicate with our soul. Practicing daily respiratory techniques will enable us to clear our respiratory tract and allow more oxygen into our bodies.

By doing this, all facets of concentration are put to practice, and, thus, we attain a serene mood. Breathing can be an ally, a path towards tranquility, even during difficult times. Once mastered, we can use the breathing techniques to concentrate at any time.

Learn to how breath for concentration

The wise have a saying: “In a breath, we are here and in a breath, we will be gone.” Breathing is life itself. A yoga master’s ability to control their breath for extended periods of time activates the divine vital energy that is within all of us, the kundalini.

On a physical level, deep breathing stimulates our nervous system, both parasympathetic and sympathetic. This, on the one hand, means that we can calm ourselves down in times of stress. And, on the other, brain functions become activated. Practicing breathing techniques for concentration helps keep our brain’s hemispheres balanced.

Next, we will introduce you to some breathing exercises, so that you can start mastering these techniques and reach high levels of concentration. In each task, periodic constancy is what matters most. We guarantee that you will see positive results.

Conscious breathing exercises

Yoga is a relaxation technique, that practices deep breathing. It consists of lying on your back, although you can do it while seated if necessary, and inhaling gently through your nose. You must fill your lungs with air so that your abdomen goes up and your diaphragm goes down.

Once your abdomen is full of air, hold it in for four seconds. Start to slowly exhale through your nose, making the air flow outwards; then, finish the cycle by pausing for four seconds more. Your body and mind will benefit immediately from just three of these deep breaths.

Yoga schools also teach the alternate nostril breathing technique. This technique is one of the most essential yoga disciplines. Alternate your breathing by inhaling and exhaling through your left and right nostrils.

We’ll start by covering our right nostril completely and exhaling all the air out of our left nostril. Then, inhale through the left, hold it in, and exhale from the right nostril to start the cycle again. Once your body is accustomed to this exercise, you start by counting each breath you take. You can start with four seconds, for example, until you reach ten.

The Pranayama alternate nostril breathing technique is considered to be the perfect exercise for balancing our energetic channels. In this way, the right nostril is connected to the most physically and mentally active part. Cleaning this channel activates and gives us energy. On the other hand, the left nostril connects with the emotional state and cleaning it will provide relaxation and a sense of calm.

Both deep breathing and the alternate nostril breathing techniques lead to progressive states of concentration. After a while, the benefits will become more noticeable, including a feeling of joy and overall well-being.

 


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.