By Carol Martin BA, RMT 

The Breath, when allowed, can activate the Vagus Nerve (10^th Cranial Nerve), which powers the Para-Sympathetic Nervous System, bringing balance to the Autonomic N.S. 

Sit quietly and breathe in a relaxed way to activate the Vagus Nerve.

For two minutes, breathe and Be instead of Do. 

We release held energy when we exhale. Allowing the exhale = allowing the release of tensions. We hold our tensions simultaneously in our physical, emotional, and mental bodies. The energy of these three bodies is in constant rapport and communication. 

Mind and Emotions are causal areas to the physical (energetically). In other words, physical stress began as mental or emotional stress. Tension at any level translates into held energy, congestion, and is also known as “resistance”. Resistance creates pain for us. Most of the time we are unaware of being “in resistance”, but our shallow breathing patterns tell us we are there. 

As a Reg’d Massage Therapist (for 25 years), I have observed that when a client’s resistance is lowered, there is a shift into a deeper, natural, “not forced”, breathing pattern. When this happens, it is as if the client is in a state of acceptance, surrender, and passive observation at a deep level. By giving up their resistance and their exhale, they are getting out of their own way, so that a transformation can happen. They are giving their body THEIR permission to go along with, and respond to, what “suggestions” the treatment is offering. The change may happen in their organs, tissues, nerves, lymph, muscles etc. Since our various bodies are inter-connected all the time, the change can and does happen across the board, if we let it. We can all do this when we want to, with the release of our exhale on a regular basis. 

Energetically, the entire dense physical body is dependant on the flow of energy from the major and minor energy centres (or chakras). The energy field and the chakras reflect all of who a person is, was, and can become. Breathing in a relaxed way allows our energy to move better, allowing us to get out of our own way, and become all we can be. 

Since energy blocks are caused by long held, unresolved, emotions and thoughts, and, we release many of there blocks by surrendering our exhale, it is understandable that much can be done to rectify physical symptoms by breathing more fully, more often, in our daily lives. Breath and life are interchangeable terms. Relaxed, aware, allowed, full breathing is our most efficient, powerful, cost effective tool available for personal health and growth. Relaxed breathing changes our physiology and our psychology for the better by releasing held energy/ tensions/ emotions/ thoughts. 

As a therapist, helping clients to become aware of their breath has helped create a co-creative practice, where I see clients receive greater benefits. It has also made my life easier by helping maintain my wellness and my spiritual centre. Learning to observe and allow our breath can teach all of us to be more fully in the now; to accept and allow whatever is waiting to come into consciousness to be acknowledged and released. This, simply put, makes more space for Life and Change.  

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Carol Martin, BA, RMT

Creator of the Enlightened Living Seminar

Bringing Life to People and People to Life Through Breath and Esoteric Healing Instructor With the International Network for Esoteric Healing (since 1989) In Barrie, Ontario

Email: carolmartin@sympatico.ca