mindfulness and the breath

Many mindfulness practices will indicate that you breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth.  Studies into Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga have identified many reasons why breathing in through the nose and out through the nose are more beneficial – these are just some…...

• It is easier to focus and maintain attention on the breath (mindfulness).  Notice that when you breathe in through the nose, the air is cool, but the outbreath is slightly warmer at the nostrils.  Keep the mind fixed on the cool inbreath and the warm outbreath.
• One of the aims of Yoga is balance – breath affects our balance.  For example, making the outbreath shorter than the inbreath stimulates our sympathetic nervous system.  The outbreath through the mouth is quicker than the outbreath through the nose.
• Breathing in through the nose
  • Filters the air
  • Warms the air to body temperature
  • Stimulates the turbinates causing other things to happen – for example, deepening the inhale; via the brainstem, signals are sent to the lungs that  improve lung function

so we wouldn’t balance the in and out breaths by breathing in and out through the mouth.

• Some practices suggest that the lips are pursed to slow the outbreath.  Breathing out through the mouth sends signals to the brain that carbon dioxide is being lost too rapidly.  A certain level of CO2 is required to maintain the acidity of the blood, so the body begins to halt the speed of release by producing mucous in the airways to narrow them and enforce a slower outbreath.  Even mild respiratory difficulties can be aggravated by increased mucous production.  If practiced for a longer period, the body responds by constricting arteries and blood vessels.  On the other hand, simple nostril breathing, practised regularly, can ingeniously improve wellbeing.