The human mind is one of the most precious things in the world. It gives us all our uniqueness. It keeps our bodies running, and helps us on our path to higher consciousness. This is why it makes no sense for some people to lavish so much care on their cars, clothes, etc., but so little on their brains. How, then, can you take care of something that you can't see or touch? Well, one of the best, most effective ways to take care of your brain is through getting more oxygen by conscious breathing.
Let's figure out exactly why your brain uses so much oxygen. Firstly, it is because of the arrangement of the cells. The brain is really a lot bigger than it looks. If the gray matter (cerebellum, where your higher thinking takes place) alone were spread out, unwrinkled, it would be about the size of a pillowcase. Now, add to that the fact that there are billions of neurons, all forming new connections between each other. And on top of that, your brain is not only in charge of your thinking, memory and motor functions, it also controls the things you don't think about, like your heartbeat and digestion. Its responses to stimuli are so rapid that they seem instantaneous. For example, the time between touching something hot and feeling the pain seems non-existent. Given its size, and the sheer amount of work it does, we shouldn't be surprised why you need so much oxygen to keep it running. In addition, the brain is rather fragile. It can be bruised by bumping into its own protective shell (i.e. the skull). Just a little oxygen deprivation can cause a lot of damage, which can never be fully repaired.
Now, let us talk about how the body gets oxygen for normal breathing. Air on Earth is only 20% oxygen. This means that only a fifth of the air you inhale gets used for cellular respiration. Also, the process of binding oxygen to the blood can be endangered or impeded by the presence of waste gases like carbon dioxide, or toxic gases like carbon monoxide that bond to the hemoglobin in your blood, so that your blood cells have no space left for oxygen. In other words, there is a strong possibility that you are not getting enough oxygen, and that you should change your breathing habits accordingly.
The very fact that you are paying attention to your breathing by conscious breathing promotes concentration and mental control in general. You will have to learn how to tune out distractions, or get your mind back on track if you ever do get distracted.
Through breathing exercises, you can also train your brain to stay calm. Though some people prefer to act on their "gut" or "heart," it is always good to have the option to be rational, even in a crisis. If you prefer to go with your emotions at such times, that is your choice. However, it is better to make that choice freely, instead of being irrational because you just couldn't think straight anymore.
Practice breathing for a sharper, clearer mind.
Keith Tennent is a medical researcher and a fitness enthusiast. He has overcome personal health difficulties and now teaches others to improve their health. His technique is simple and takes literally a few seconds each day. Best of all, anybody can do it. Whether your interest is in improving your mental health in things like concentration and memory, or your physical health like overcoming arthritis or asthma. He has written many other articles which are available free at easybreathe.co.uk easybreathe.co.uk/
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