The link between breath, energy, and alignment
Breath, as an essential condition for survival, can be looked at from the physiological point of view and hence the oxygenation that occurs with each breath, as well as the life force or Prana that allows living beings to thrive.
From the physiological point of view, through the process of breathing oxygen is brought in from the environment to the organs and the cells and waste products, like carbon dioxide are taken out and got rid of. Oxygen is an important supply for cells as cells consume oxygen to create energy to fuel their vital functions. Certain cells in the body are capable of anaerobic respiration (i.e. cellular respiration without any oxygen) for a short period of time. However, other cells in the body, including neurons and brain cells, cannot engage in the act of respiration without oxygen and will therefore, without a steady supply of oxygen, will die very quickly.
The main source of energy for all types of cellular activities in the body is ATP. To produce ATP, the cells need to break down glucose. This can be achieved through anaerobic and aerobic respiration in the cell. Aerobic respiration produces thirty-eight ATPs and anaerobic breathing produces two ATP. While the aerobic breathing is usually preferred because of the considerably higher production of ATP, it is a slower process and so, if the cell needs access to energy immediately (e.g. in high stress/fight or flight situation or during an intense muscular exercise) anaerobic respiration is a quicker way of energy production at the cellular level. However, anaerobic respiration is not a sustainable means of energy production for the cells and the cells can get worn out if they continue to produce energy in this manner.
Glycolysis (the process of energy production through anaerobic respiration) and oxidative phosphorylation (the process of energy production through aerobic breathing) are both catabolic processes, which means that the cells are involved in the process of breaking things down. If cells are constantly involved in catabolic processes, they will not have the capacity to build and repair (anabolic processes). And for the body to have strong immunity and the ability to recover and heal, anabolic processes are essential. Both types of cellular breathing can generate by-products that are harmful for the cell, such as superoxide radical that can lead to oxidative stress in the cell. Without proper periods of rest, oxidative stress can damage organelle and cellular processes and lead to chronic conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes.
During periods of high stress, when the body is in the fight-flight state, breathing happens through the accessory muscles in the chest and the neck. Accessory breathing is beneficial during periods of acute stress when the body needs immediate access to oxygen and the rate of breathing and the rate of blood arriving at the lung cells (perfusion) match. However, when accessory breathing happens during rest or when stress becomes chronic, the rate of breath and perfusion will not match, which means lower oxygenation with each breath. Accessory breathing can also keep the brain and hence the body in a state of alertness, in which the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is aroused, and breathing remains shallow and through accessory muscles. This vicious cycle of messaging between the respiratory system and the brain, keeps the body in the state of fight or flight and can lead to muscular tension and pain in the body. The experience of pain will in turn keep the SNS activated and tension and tightness in accessory muscles in the chest and the neck can pull the muscles into a slouching position, which in turn affects the sternal angle. The pressure on the sternal angle can affect the cardiovascular anatomy and increase the sympathetic drive. The way we breathe (i.e. chesty and accessory breathing that activates the SNS or diaphragmatic or belly breathing that activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) can affect our posture and physical alignment. In accessory breathing the perceive itself to be in danger and so the muscles become tense. In the state of relaxation, when breaths are deeper and provide more oxygen to the body, the body receives the safety signal and the muscles relaxed and can more with ease and without force or pain.
In the yogic tradition, the universal source of energy is known as Prana. Heat, electricity, light, and magnetism are believed to be the manifestation of this universal energy. All aspects of human existence are powered by Prana and to achieve true well-being and spiritual freedom, human beings need to harness the power of this energy. In other words, at the individual level, Prana is the energy that sustains life and is responsible for all physical and mental processes, including respiration, circulation, digestion, and movement as well as thought, speech, and cognition. Prana is believed to be active in all five sheaths of well-being, and various practices can help the individua access various koshas. For example, breathwork can help the individual access the Annamaya (the physical body) and Pranamaya (the energy body) koshas. The Hatha yoga texts reveal how the practitioner can use the breath and breathing practices to control and manipulate Prana. The function of Prana in the subtle body is divided in to five distinct vayus (i.e. sub-pranas), which are Apana, Samana, prana, Udana, and Vyana,
Prana is considered to be the most important vayus, that controls the four other vayus. With its upward motion, it is located between the diaphragm and the base of the throat. It is responsible for the function of all the mechanisms in the chest area, including the breath, heart and lungs, blood circulation and swallowing. It is believed to be located in the heart centre. The quality of breath can reveal the flow or obstruction of prana in the chest and the throat. When the vayus get out of alignment, ailment can occur, which shows itself in the body in the form of disease and unwellness.
There are various yogic practices to bring the vayus back to alignment and balance. One of these practices is Pranayama, which is the breathing techniques used to increase the flow of the universal Prana in the body. The Hatha yoga texts show the relationship between the quality of the breath and stability of the mind and the body of the practitioners: “when the breath is unsteady, the mind is unsteady. When the breath is steady, the mind is steady, and the yogi becomes steady. Therefore, one should restrain the breath”, HYP:2.2). Pranayama and manipulation of the breath are one of the numerous regulation techniques, used by yoga therapists to bring the body back to alignment. Similar to other yoga traditions, in yoga therapy, the structural axis and the energetic core and axis are explored. This means that the practitioner is invited to explore the connection between the foundation, the pelvic core, the heart centre, and the limbic centre, with a sense of curiosity and without judgment, while creating space for the universal Prana to flow in the body through other mindfulness, and regulatory practices like breathwork.
