How to Use Your Inner Energy Reserves

How to Use Your Inner Energy Reserves

How to Use Your Inner Energy Reserves: The Secret You Already Know

When we were born, our whole body took in air. The breath gave life to every cell. As adults, we are impressed (and tired) by how much energy kids have all the time. When we were young, we were full of vitality and could breathe easily with our tummies wide. After that, we started to learn and develop bad ways of breathing. Breathing isn't something you think about, but to get back your youthful vigor and natural breathing, you need to be aware of it and take part.

The body knows how to breathe for our basic survival, thus it will do it without you even thinking about it. This automatic breath keeps you alive, but when you unknowingly hold or restrict your breath out of habit, the breath that used to "breathe you" becomes automatically limited and distorted. This breath that you don't know about keeps you alive but doesn't help you thrive. We grownups look for ways to bring back this feeling of being alive. Caffeine, sugar, nicotine, alcohol, mega-vitamins, herbs, drama, sex, and obsessions may all give us a quick boost of energy but then leave us feeling drained. Strangely, the secret to getting back this dynamic energy is inside ourselves, in the unconditioned air of our childhood.

Western medicine and science are showing over and over again what Eastern health traditions have known for centuries: that breathing effectively is the best way to promote health, energy, and well-being. Breathing influences our sleep, memory, energy, and focus, as well as our respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, muscular, and mental systems. Ancient Taoism, Yogic texts, and medicinal practices in China, Tibet, and India (Ayurveda) have all linked breathing to the status of our bodies and minds for thousands of years. People have traditionally thought that breathing was connected to their health, consciousness, and spirit. This is also found in ancient Greek and Latin manuscripts, as well as in Eastern faiths. The Greek word psyche pneuma means "breath," "soul," "air," or "spirit." The Latin word anima spiritus means "breath" or "soul."

The breath is the most powerful and easy way to clean and refresh the body. The way you breathe shows how you feel about yourself and the world around you. If the breath is shallow, the body's most important functions will not be working at their best. But if the breath is lengthy and deep, the respiratory system can work fully and correctly, and the cells in the body will get all the oxygen they need. Getting back to the true essence of the breath is a deep and gratifying journey because it reveals who we really are. This "essential" breath is in between the unconscious, automatic breath and the breathing exercises that are controlled and managed in healing systems like yoga. It is aware but natural, coming from deep inside us and easily returning to our center.

The way we breathe and the way we act are very closely linked, therefore how we breathe has a big impact on how we feel emotionally every day. Deep breathing makes more red blood cells that are fully oxygenated and gets rid of carbon dioxide, a waste product. Carbon dioxide turns into carbonic acid if it isn't removed by proper breathing. The kidneys have to filter out carbonic acid that has built up, which takes away the body's vital energy (Prana in yoga, Ching Chi in Chinese, Ki in Japanese). We might not pay attention to our breath, yet we might feel fatigued, frustrated, rushed, or agitated all the time, which affects everything we do.

You can start to feel the essential breath with a little work. We need to be able to pay attention to and notice how we breathe; we need to make the unconscious conscious. The first thing you need to do is ask a question. You might not even know it, yet trying to release your air could make it harder to breathe. Be patient and curious as you do these meditations.

Watching the Important Breath - Sit comfortably and start to pay attention to your breathing without trying to change or adjust it in any way. Let your breath do what it wants. Take your time and focus on your expiration. Let your consciousness follow the length of a breath. Enjoy the feeling. Without changing it, look into the pause at the end of the exhalation. Just relax and let it happen. Have faith that the next breath will come to you without you having to "grab" it.


Long, Deep Breathing - This is the simplest approach to become more conscious of your breathing, balance your meridian pathways (from Chinese medicinal traditions), your endocrine system, and your emotions. Take a deep breath into your abdominal, then your diaphragm, and finally your chest. Hold your breath for a few seconds without forcing it, and then slowly let it out. Take slow, deep breaths on purpose, focusing on making each breath full and complete. I


Hara Breathing is a type of meditation. The Hara, which is also called the "Sea of Energy," is a very important energy point that situated three fingers below the navel. People say that this old method feeds the body's internal organs, giving it strength and endurance and making it healthier overall. Take deep breaths into your lower abdomen and focus on this area. As you breathe in, let your stomach come out. Feel the breath fill your tummy all the way to the bottom. Breathe out, pulling your belly in, and imagine energy flowing through your body. I

Your breath is a tool and a safe place that you may always use. You can always go back to the sanctuary inside your breath whether you're exhausted, confused, rushed, or stressed. You can rest and recharge here by just stopping at the end of your exhalations. There is nothing to do, correct, or modify. Just relax and enjoy the care and love that is given to you in the calm of your breath.

Karen B. Cohen owns the copyright for this work. All Rights Reserved

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