JUST BREATHE REVISITED

Previously I blogged about the stress relieving benefit of slow, even breathing.  Since then it continues to come up directly or indirectly with different approaches to stress management.  It is frequently referred to as "mindfulness."  This has been defined as consciousness without thought.  I wonder if it may be better defined as a calm, alert state with active efforts to clear one's mind from worries, future events, past events, etc., so that we are open to what life might bring us.  Being aware of our breathing as we focus on it becoming slow and even, is one way to achieve this state of "mindfulness" that is available to anyone who commits to practicing this type of breathing on a daily basis.  Intrerestingly, it seems to be an important part of the brain training treatments for ADHD and PTSD as well as a way to improve working memory and reading levels in people.  The latter reference is to studies involving mindfulness training undertaken by Michael Mrazek and his colleagues at UC-Santa Barbara who are introducing mindfulness practices into elementary schools. 

The benefits of meditation, mindfulness and breathing practices have been well established.  It seems like a number of treatments represent attempts to achieve a meditative/mindful state more quickly by reinforcing certain brain wave patterns that are associated with being calm and alert and focused. These same brain wave patterns can be achieved through breathing exercises and other meditative practices. I am eager to learn the results of Dr. Mrazek and colleagues attempts to implement mindfulness practices in elementary level school systems.  This could have a significant positive impact on the lives of these children and possibly spread to their family members.  

As I ended the other blog about breathing, I will end this one the same way.  JUST BREATHE.