problems breathing

[hammill1969]

I have a deviated septum and can't breathe comfortably through my nose most of the time. Can i still practice mindfulness mouth breathing. I have been doing and trying to focus on my stomach rising and falling or the sensation on my lip breathing through pursed lips. I feel sometimes i am taking too much air in and not breathing as naturally as i could.

[piedwagtail91]

i can't see a problem with mouth breathing, i've come across a few that do but met only one teacher who gives it as an option.
i've always wondered why it was assumed that everyone breathed through their nose.
maybe it's come from yoga?
i've tried it when i've had sinus problems and focussed on the different sensations of temperature of the in breath and out breath.
for me it's easier to feel that in the mouth than the nose.
breathe however is best for you, without judging yourself for it.

[hammill1969]

Thanks for the reply pied. When I breathe through the nose it really feels like a struggle, forced and not smoothe but jarred. I think you're right I haven't seen many teachers advocate mouth breathing either, only one that stated focus on the sensation of the breath on the top lip when mouth breathing. Maybe its because the buddha taught nasal breathing.

[Matt Y]

Nasal breathing, when possible, tends to be a bit more relaxing than mouth breathing. Typically, we only need to breathe through the mouth when we're exerting ourselves physically. That said, exhaling through the mouth (or sighing) is a good way to release tension. People naturally sigh (out through the mouth) for example, when they are exasperated or overwhelmed. Yawning, (also breathing through the mouth) triggers, and is associated with the descent towards sleep, which is also relaxing. The more relaxed you are the less oxygen you will need, and therefore your breath will tend to be more subtle. You won't need great gulps through the mouth, but just a gentle nasal trickle.

There is no 'right' way to breathe though. You breathe according to the circumstances; that is, according to how much oxygen you need. Some smart part of your nervous system continually monitors the pH level in your blood (or something like that) to determine how much air you need, and your rate of respiration will change on that basis.

In other words, when possible breathe through your nose. If that's not possible, or comfortable, then breathe through your mouth. (Also, if you are running to catch the bus!)

If you find focusing on the breath (through mouth or nose) uncomfortable, unnatural, or too much of a concern, then you need not focus on it at all. There are hundreds of other meditation 'objects' available, and they can all be just as useful as the breath, and perhaps more so in instances where focusing on the breath proves problematic.

[hammill1969]

Thanks Matt,
Focusing on the breath has been problematic for me as i suffer from anxiety and one of my main symptoms is obsessing about the breath,feeling tense. Meditating on the breath has helped me quite a lot in that I am lot less paranoid than I used to be about the breath.

[piedwagtail91]

A couple of people who were on the last course focused their awareness on the contact of their feet with the floor because of anxiety about their breath

[hammill1969]

I haven't tried the focus on the feet yet, not sure how to do it. I think focusing on other things apart from the breath is something i need to try.

[JonW]

Why not try the four-part breath/body/sound/thought meditation but skip the breath part?
Here's a script for the four-part meditation.
http://www.mindfulnessstudies.com/wp-co ... Script.pdf
Jon

[hammill1969]

I can do the body scan and feel quite a lot of sensations. Before practicing mindfulness I had some hypnosis training and that has helped me develop an awareness of bodily sensations. I definitely need to practice the sound and thoughts meditations. I practice the sound meditation in my room it is quiet and the are no sounds apart from JKZs voice on the guided meditation so not sure what to focus on. Maybe I should do the sound meditation in a less quiet environment. Thanks for the advice.

[piedwagtail91]

i suppose i'm lucky where meditation on sound is concerned, the back of my house is next a park so when i open the window i've loads of sound, from the wind in the trees to dogs barking.
the front is by a fairly busy road so there's always traffic rattling past.
i think one of the main things with sound is not to like or dislike it (dogs barking, pneumatic drills), forget it's source and hear it,explore it, explore the 'silence' behind it too.
sensations for the ears.