Practical Psychology is a weekly newspaper column I have been writing for over 20 years. It is designed to address psychological topics that are most useful to its readers. Please feel free to re-print any of them in any form you wish. I ask only that you give the information about how to subscribe and credit for authorship. Thanks.

THE POWER OF BREATH
By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

As our presidential election approaches, are you anxious ...depressed ...excited ...discouraged ...stressed out? You may want to try breathing better. Because your breathing pattern has more power than you may know. It exercises more influence over your physical, mental and emotional health than almost any other function, except for the pumping of your heart.

We often think brain function is the most influential system in our bodies. But without breath, the brain rapidly stops functioning and physically deteriorates. Immediately after birth, the newborn must breathe. It is an absolute necessity. The breath of life" begins at birth, sustains, and nourishes us throughout life. Learning to manage or control our breath is an extremely valuable skill. Harnessing the power of the breath can lead you to be in control of your psychological/emotional health and well-being. Here are some influences of the breath you may have never considered.

Another word for inhaling is "inspire." When we die, breathe our last breath, we are said to "expire." Inspiration brings into our bodies oxygen, the fuel we burn to maintain body energy vital to movement and body-warmth. When someone speaks with energy and enthusiasm, we often characterize him/her as "inspirational." To inspire others is to energize them into action. They breathe differently and use the resulting energy to move (motivate) themselves to take action. Each of us has been inspired to take some action.

Breathing is the only vital function that can be voluntarily controlled or modified. Or we can not consider breathing at all, and our "unconscious" takes over and we don't have to think about it. Actually, most of us don't think about our breathing much anyway. Too bad. Changing your breath pattern allows you to manage your anxiety. When we breathe from our abdomen's in a deep, long and slow manner, our anxiety is diminished. Even panic attacks can be managed by re-inhaling the carbon dioxide we exhaled in previous exhales. That is why it is often recommended to those in panic that they breathe into a paper bag. If you want to change your mood, change your breath pattern.

Meditators are keenly aware of the power of the breath. They use their breathing pattern to still their minds, relax their bodies, and focus their attention. Counting your breath cycles allows you to become focused on a single activity. And single-pointed attention is a highly meditative mental state. We are all familiar with the sigh. Sighing is a large breath cycle designed to release bodily tension. Rapid abdominal breathing, or panting, creates more of our body's natural pain-killers, the endorphins. Endorphins are partially responsible for the "runner's high" often experienced by athletes. They also minimize the pain of childbirth. That is why women are encouraged to pant when giving birth. Abdominal panting can clear your head. When you are mentally fatigued, or have too many thoughts, you can refresh your thinking by taking a minute out to pant.

This kind of breath control cleanses and refreshes the body/mind. Singers, performers and public speakers are taught to "project" their voices through the use of abdominal breathing. More than any other activity, how one uses breath and body energy accounts for personal charisma. So if you want to become more appealing to others, learn to manage your breath. Have you ever seen someone so beautiful and charismatic he/she "took your breath away?"

Hopefully, you can begin to understand the invaluable skill of breath control. You can exercise more power and influence over your experience of being alive than you perhaps ever thought. Learn breath management skills and you learn life-management skills. Keep in mind what Kabir, the fifteenth-century Indian poet once wrote: "Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God? He is the breath inside the breath." Learn of your own breath of Life and you may just learn of the "breath inside the breath."

Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D. has 30+ years experience as a Life Coach and Licensed Psychologist. He is available for coaching in any area presented in "Practical Psychology." Initial coaching sessions are free. Contact him: (970) 568-0173 or E-mail: DrLloyd@CreatingLeaders.com or LJTDAT@aol.com.

Dr. Thomas also serves on the faculty of the Institute For Life Coach Training and the International University of Professional Studies. He recently co-authored (with Patrick Williams) the book: *Total Life Coaching: 50+ Life Lessons, Skills and Techniques for Enhancing Your Practice*and Your Life!* (W.W. Norton 2005) available at your local bookstore or on Amazon.com.

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