Why Does How I Breathe Matter?

And other commonly asked questions about the breath in meditation

Photo by Victor Garcia on Unsplash

The breath is a critical part of meditation. But because it’s also an automatic function of the body that we don’t even have to think to do, it can also be a confusing part of meditation.

You wonder why it matters how you breathe. You question if slowing or deepening your breath really makes a difference. You wonder if there’s something wrong with you if you breathe slower or faster than the instructor describes.

You wonder how you can breathe into your belly when the air goes into your lungs — especially since you’re pretty sure the two aren’t connected.

Questions about the breath are common for beginning meditators. You want to make the most of this new thing you’re doing.

So let’s go over some of the most common questions I hear about the breath when it comes to meditation.

What is a “cleansing breath?”

You’ll often hear a meditation teacher tell you to begin your meditation by taking a deep, cleansing breath? But what does that mean? Are you supposed to inhale bleach or dish soap?

Imagine this: you’ve been working outside all day. You’re hot, sweaty, covered in a layer of dirt and…