Pranayama: The Forgotten Art of Breathing
Breathing is the simplest thing we do — yet, few of us ever notice how we breathe. It happens automatically, and we take it for granted… until we can’t catch our breath.
But in truth, how you breathe shapes how you live. Shallow breathing keeps you alive. Deep, conscious breathing helps you thrive.
Why Your Breath Matters
We can survive weeks without food, days without water — but only minutes without air.
Breath and life are inseparable.
And yet, modern life seems designed to disrupt the natural rhythm of our breath.
We hurry through tasks, slouch at desks, wear tight clothes, sit in sealed rooms, and barely step outside.
Our breath becomes short, shallow, and rushed — just enough to keep going, but far from optimal.
Over time, this lazy, inefficient breathing affects everything:
Stress and tension build up
Lungs and organs weaken
Circulation suffers
Energy declines
And our connection to life feels… thin
Have you noticed? People who seem anxious often breathe fast and shallow.
Those who appear calm and steady tend to breathe slowly and fully. It’s no coincidence.
Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Needs
Long ago, yogis observed that our health, emotions, and even lifespan are tied to the quality of our breath.
They realized that when we breathe slowly and deeply, we activate the body’s natural ability to heal and calm itself.
They developed pranayama: the practice of regulating and expanding the breath to nourish the mind and body.
They even believed that each of us has a fixed number of breaths to spend in a lifetime — so the slower and deeper your breathing, the longer and healthier your life. Even if you don’t believe in fixed breaths, it’s clear: Slowing your breath slows your mind, calms your body, and reconnects you with the rhythm of life.
How We’ve Lost Touch
In nature, living beings naturally breathe well.
A farmer working the fields breathes deeply and fully as he moves.
Birds and animals sync their breath with the cycles of day and night.
Even the seasons seem to breathe — expanding and contracting — and everything moves with it.
But modern humans have forgotten how to flow with these rhythms.
We live in boxes, barely move, and treat breath like an afterthought.
No wonder we feel tired, disconnected, and out of sync with ourselves.
Learning to Breathe Again
Thankfully, the body remembers what we’ve forgotten.
With a little awareness and practice, you can restore your natural breathing patterns — and unlock the energy within.
Here’s how the yogis describe it:
Abdominal (diaphragmatic) breathing: The most efficient and calming. Your belly rises and falls naturally.
Middle (ribcage) breathing: Moderate, expanding the chest.
Upper (clavicular) breathing: Shallow, with little air — often what we default to when stressed.
Yogic breathing: A harmonious combination of all three — full, deep, and conscious.
Start Where You Are
You don’t need anything fancy to begin.
Just sit quietly, loosen your clothing, and take a moment to notice your breath.
Try this:
Sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
Place one hand on your belly.
Inhale deeply through your nose, feeling your belly rise.
Exhale slowly, feeling your belly fall.
Repeat gently for a few minutes — without trying to control anything.
Let the breath be your guide.
The Story of Chintamani
Chintamani was always in a rush.
Racing through life, shouting at traffic, chewing food in three bites, checking his phone at every red light.
He believed multitasking was an art.
Until one morning, standing in the middle of a crowded marketplace, Chintamani suddenly collapsed.
A stranger helped him up and took him to a local doctor.
The doctor ran tests, checked his pulse, asked questions, and finally leaned back and smiled.
“You’re not sick,” he said.
“You’ve just forgotten how to breathe.”
The stranger chuckled softly and said,
“My grandmother used to say — if you’re doing asanas but skipping pranayama and meditation, it’s like cooking food and throwing it away.”
Chintamani didn’t know what to say.
So he said nothing.
That evening, for the first time in years, he sat still — and listened to his breath.
It was uneven, shallow, nervous. But it was there.
And breath by breath, he returned to life.
Final Thought
Breathing is more than a survival function — it’s a bridge between body and mind, between outer noise and inner stillness.
In a world that celebrates speed and distraction, pranayama invites you back to rhythm and presence.
You don’t need to escape to the mountains to begin.
Just find one quiet moment.
One slow breath.
And begin again.
Like Chintamani did :)