the movement
honor ancestors, serve descendants, nourish all
Smell the moment.
Standing at the most south-western corner of Australia you are where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean converge. You hear sea birds cry as they swoop and ride the wind currents. You feel the pulsation of the waves as these two mighty bodies of water merge with each other and the land. The majesty of the scene envelopes you, and you breathe in deeply through your nose to smell the moment. The cool salt air fills you and you feel united with existence. That state of full, whole, presence is available any time. It comes to you via nostril breathing.
What’s the big deal with nostril breathing?
Our nasal passages, specifically the paranasal sinuses, continuously excrete a gas called Nitric Oxide (NO) into the nasal airways so when we breathe in through our nose, we inhale the air from outside our bodies and the NO that we ourselves produce into our lungs.
What’s the big deal with Nitric Oxide (NO)?
Nitric Oxide is a vasodilator. In short, that means it makes it easier for us to breathe. Your airways, the trachea (throat) and the bronchioles (branches of your lungs) are lined with smooth muscle tissue. NO relaxes smooth muscle therefore widening the passages. As a result, we get more air into our lungs.
The NO in our lungs dilates (makes wider) the pulmonary (lung) arteries (tubes for blood flow) therefore you get more blood flow into your lungs where gas exchange happens. We can then absorb life giving Oxygen into the blood and release toxic Carbon Dioxide.
Curious about the anatomy of the nasal cavity?
Here is a link to a simple diagram.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513272/figure/article-35896.image.f1/?report=objectonly
Pause to acknowledge times when we mouth breathe on purpose.
The most important aspect of keeping our physical body alive is breathing, regardless of whether one is breathing through our mouth or nose. There can be a wide variety of reasons a person may need to mouth breathe (rather than nostril breathe). I salute all for maintaining the vital life force of breath flowing.
· Anyone huff and puff and mouth breathe while hiking up hill?
· Anyone ever have a stuffy nose in allergy season?
· Anyone ever ugly cry to the point that your nostrils and eyes feel swollen?
My hand is defiantly up in the air. These are all examples of times when I have to mouth breathe. I do so, and I am eternally grateful there is a backup plan to get air flow!
There are times when we intentionally use the mouth to exhale. Like when chanting, sounding, singing, etc. These are all examples of creating a vibration coupled with a long exhale. The good news here is the longer exhales allow for more buildup of Nitric Oxide in the nasal passages so that when we do next inhale through our nose, we get the reward of the NO build up.
Photo: me mouth breathing and singing in the Rincon del la Vieja national park in Costa Rica.
Why is nostril breathing a gift?
When we nostril breathe, enabling ourselves to benefit from optimal gas exchange in our lungs, all the systems of our being reap the bounty. Our nervous system immediately responds to the increased gas exchange as the nourishing intake and more efficient release of toxin shifts us out of “just survive” mode and into “thrive” mode. We may not even recognize “thrive” mode until we have established ourselves in it. The nervous system in thrive mode is a boon to all our physiological systems to maintain homeostasis. When our systems are in balance we show up as a whole being, heart-mind-body-soul. We are more grounded and less jittery. We are more content and less tense. When we are fully present, embodying equal parts stability and ease, we enable those around us to be steady and smooth with us.
The invitation is to nostril breathe your way towards the winter (or summer) solstice and into the next season. Give yourself the gift of Nitric Oxide. Offer the presence of yourself, calm and constant, as a gift to others.
December 2023