Everything has happened in 2020 and it’s only half over. Just “holding on” feels worthy of a banquet and trophy.
No one could have predicted a medical face mask would be a primary fashion accessory, nonetheless, we are here and they are.
A global viral epidemic still spreads across our planet and, simultaneously, an accompanying protest movement is swelling up and demanding social change and economic fairness for all people.
With the ferocity of current events, individual mental health is increasingly interwoven with societal or collective mental wellness. When the chaos of life itself becomes a source of anxiety, what can we do to safeguard our mental health and wellness?
When life was much less complicated, we entered this bright world as a new, cute, innocent form of life. The first thing we did was search for and take a breath. A breath signals life and an entry into the natural world.
Like our fellowship of living creatures, we take in oxygen for the first time and kickstart a neuro-physio-spiritual process which is simply, life.
Focusing on our breath and how it influences our mind and body simplifies life to the minimalistic extreme: it’s just you and your breath without the distractions and clutter.
Stopping life momentarily and breathing consciously or “controlled breathing” calms our nervous system and reduces stress. Eastern spiritual pursuits have promoted breath control, or pranayama, for hundreds of years. Buddhism sees breath meditation as an avenue to enlightenment.
Enlightenment would be a bonus, however, I’d be okay with easing anxiety around lining up at the grocery store without breaking brand new, vaguely defined social rules. Previous ways of behaving were neurologically entrenched by 50 years of repetition and rewards.
My brain and body completed social tasks on autopilot, pretty much. Now, I have to take the controls and navigate new territory of social norms and expectations. We need all the help we can conjure up.
Science is beginning to verify the effectiveness of eastern yogis’ practices. Controlling breath is like a gateway from the conscious mind to the unconscious. Controlling breathing can change the response of the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which controls unconscious activities such as heart rate, digestion and, importantly, our stress response.
To readjust to the new, changing reality-controlled breathing can be a tool to recalibrate your brain and body to better interact with a new normal. Once we get control of our breath, the next step is gaining control of this rapidly changing new world. Just breathe.
Robert Skender is a Powell River freelance writer and health commentator.
