The Markets It was a nerve-wracking week. Iran fired 22 ballistic missiles at the Ain Al Asad air base near western Iraq and a second base in northern Iraq following last week’s U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian military commander. Newsweek reported the bases suffered minimal damage and there were no casualties from the attack. However, Iran mistakenly downed a commercial airliner, killing all on board, reported CBS News. U.S. stock prices faltered after the initial attack, but recovered quickly when both sides, “…step[ped] back from further violent escalation…,” reported Barron’s. U.S. Treasury bond yields dropped sharply last week before rebounding. Financial Times reported the possibility of war caused global investors to seek out investments perceived to be safe havens. Record amounts of cash moved into bond investments, particularly U.S. Treasuries, during the week ended last Wednesday. Australia was ravaged by wildfires. Citing the Insurance Council of Australia, NPR reported, “The wildfires have killed more than two dozen people, more than a billion animals. They’ve destroyed more than 1,800 houses, an untold number of commercial buildings and thousands of acres of prime farmland…” At the end of last week, 130 fires were burning and 50 were uncontained, according to the BBC. The damage could mark the end Australia’s nearly 30-year economic expansion. Puerto Rico was shaken by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake. The quake followed a magnitude 6.4 quake that hit the same region four days earlier, reported the Associated Press. Since December 28, the region has been hit by, “…more than 1,280 earthquakes, of which more than 100 were felt and more than 70 were of magnitude 3.5 or greater.” On Friday, a tepid U.S. employment report cooled U.S. stock returns. However, Barron’s reported all three major U.S. indices closed, “within a half-percentage point of their highest-ever closes.”

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Breath is life. Life is breath.

  The yoga sages of India have embraced this link for centuries, where conscious breathing has long been an integral part of daily life. More recently, Western researchers have also begun to acknowledge the importance of the breath. As data accumulates, they are beginning to acknowledge that perhaps breathing is a far more important metabolic process than previously believed. The Trouble with Shallow Breathing Because most of us are not aware of our breathing, we don’t use our full breathing capacity. But inefficient or poor breathing can result in low energy, high stress and toxicity levels, and a sluggish emotional state. When done properly on the other hand, breathing can have a tremendous impact on mental, physical, and spiritual health. Shallow breathing does not provide sufficient oxygen to our brain or other cells in our bodies. Insufficient oxygen in the tissues, known as hypoxia, has been linked with degenerative disease. When our oxygen level is depleted, our body’s ability to detoxify itself is depleted, as well. This increases our susceptibility to illness and disease. Shallow, rushed breathing aggravates stress, asthma, fatigue, insomnia, and many other ailments. Shallow breathing fails to produce the natural flow of our internal organs and fluids that is created by deeper, more natural breathing. Emotions and Breath Emotions and breath are also linked. Pain can interrupt the breathing process altogether, causing you to “forget” to breathe each time the pain strikes. Undoubtedly, emotions can disrupt the natural flow of breathing, which in turn can diminish your energy. While taking in more oxygen is important, it may not be as important as its distribution. Oxygen consumption and distribution is best accomplished when we are serene and peaceful. During meditation, for example, circulation within the muscles is significantly increased. Relaxation allows us to breathe more effectively, and breathing more effectively allows us to relax. Catch the Wave When we breathe fully and deeply, the diaphragm goes down during inhalation and up during exhalation. The more the diaphragm moves, the more our lungs expand. This produces a gentle, wave-like motion that naturally stimulates and detoxifies our inner organs. You can teach yourself to breathe deeply, but it is a subtle learning process that requires perseverance and practice. Initially, you may feel discouraged or as though you aren’t doing anything. Try lying on your back, and placing your hand on your abdomen. Always breathe through your nose and out through your mouth, evenly, steadily, and deeply. Feel your abdomen inflate on the inhalation and deflate on the exhalation. Once you feel comfortable, sit upright and practice deep breathing in the vertical position. Below are a few suggestions for incorporating deep breathing into your daily life: Yoga, the Sanskrit word for union, allows you to unite body, mind, and spirit into a balanced whole. Yoga combines poses, deep breathing, and relaxation. Many people experience an energy boost soon after starting even the most basic yoga program. Hatha yoga, in particular, is designed for relaxing and releasing deep body tension, bringing balance to the nervous system, and stimulating internal organ function. Breathing evenly, without strain, is a primary component of hatha yoga. The Alexander Technique, founded by Frederick Alexander, is a gentle process of relaxation, motion and awareness that incorporates breath, mind and body. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese system of slow and graceful motion that benefits body, mind, and spirit. Literally translated, tai means big or great, and chi means ultimate energy. Through gentle, yet powerful dance-like movement, Tai Chi stimulates a freeing flow of energy. Each movement is accompanied by the breath. Gradually, the deeper, more conscious breathing becomes more natural. Stop and take some time to focus on your breathing. Doing so can benefit your body, mind, and spirit.

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