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The Science of Breath.
"Conscious breathing, the technique employed by both the yogi and the
woman in labor, is extremely powerful.
There is a wealth of data showing that changes in the rate and depth
of breathing produce changes in the quantity and kind of peptides that
are released from the brain stem. And vice versa! By bringing this process
into consciousness and doing something to alter it -either holding your
breath or breathing extra fast you cause the peptides to diffuse rapidly
throughout the cerebrospinal fluid, in an attempt to restore homeostasis,
the body's feedback mechanism for restoring and maintaining balance.
And since many of these peptides are endorphins, the body's natural opiates,
as well as other kinds of pain -relieving substances, you soon achieve
a diminution of your pain..... The peptide -respiratory link is well
documented: virtually any peptide found anywhere else can be found in
the respiratory center. This peptide substrate may provide the scientific
rationale for the powerful healing effects of consciously-controlled
breath patterns."
{peptides are tiny pieces of protein, which Pert calls "informational
substances."}
Candace Pert
Molecules of Emotion, p.186
"Wow...... that is deep but very informative
for me as a yoga teacher.
The first thing you learn in a Kripalu yoga class is how to breathe correctly,
same in prenatal yoga. Watch a baby breathe they breathe with
there whole belly, what happened to the wonderful belly breath????
In small children you can already see a difference, it is as
when they got caught with there hand in the cookie jar the diaphragm flipped
and the breathing pattern changed by holding the abdomen in and expanding
the upper chest. This continues on in to adulthood were flat tummies is
vogue .For men the same , show off those pecs pump that air high
up into the chest. Well no more; time to reclaim your birth breath.
In a prenatal class we call this abdominal breathing "Rocking
the baby breath" With one hand on your belly one on your
chest, you learn to bring the breath deeply into the lungs, diaphragm goes
down, belly forward as you learn to reconnect with your own breath and
you feel that belly move out as you inhale and in as you
exhale you
are so connected to body, breath and mind and most of all this breath
becomes the bridge between you and your baby .The
most powerful way to connect and do your prenatal bonding what a gift
for us women, what a gift. "Rocking the baby breath", with
each breath you take, the baby moves forward and back being gently rocked
in the Amniotic Ocean. Hearing your heartbeat sensing the rhythm
of your breath being soothed by the movement of your Belly
So as you learn to breathe diaphragmatical again calming breaths
the diaphragm sends that neurological connection to the brain" there
is no danger she is breathing calmly lets send some endorphins
,she is breathing so consciously so slow and she is even sounding guiding
the breath downward into the pelvis."This conscious breath and the
sounding is what I hear from my students gets them through the intense
moments of birthing there babies. In prenatal yoga the breath and learning
to relax the body is what you will take with you into the birthing phase.
Hypnobirthing classes will take this a step deeper with working on special
fear releasing techniques. To be free of fear
will allow you to go through this process of moving from Maiden into
womanhood, with strength and you come out on the other side
with this amazing empowerment. Yes you can birth your baby without
fear. Breathe, Relax, Let go.
The deepest amazing joy is that moment you hold that baby and look into each others eyes, continuing your bonding that started in utero with your breath."
Marie-Louise See. R.N.
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