Oliver James - 21 Breaths: Breathing Techniques to Change your Life

Breath is easy to take for granted. For many, breathing happens so effortlessly; so unconsciously, that we forget it takes place at all. Breathing techniques are powerful in this respect: they bring presence to a magnificence that would otherwise remain hidden and awaken a potential that would, otherwise, stay asleep.

When I hear someone say: Breathing techniques? Oh no thank you. They are not for me! I find myself smiling on the inside. I imagine these people have an image of what it means to practise breath: perhaps they see someone high up on a mountain with closed eyes and folded legs; a look of composure and serenity; an image that could not be further from the truth.

Those new to breathing techniques are often surprised to learn they have been engaging them all their lives. Long before we draw our first, truly conscious breath, our body has already spent a lifetime in practice: when we yawn; when we sigh; when we hold our breath or hyperventilate from exercise. All of these are breathing techniques: our body has purposefully changed the rate and depth of respiration and has been doing so from the moment we took our very first breath!

Though breathing techniques can easily appear foreign and unknown to us, it would be more accurate to describe the process of using them as respiring towards an increasingly familiar landscape. Since our body is already committed to the task, why not join in; why not help ourselves along?

It is from this place that the seeds of 21 Breaths was inspired. Rather than aiming to encourage a discovery of breathing techniques, this book sets out to support a re-discovery and reconnection; to reawaken the immeasurable wisdom that awaits us all at the misty edges of our breath.

There is an indescribable quality here. In this moment, the unfamiliar becomes familiar and, merging with the infinite capabilities of breath, it becomes forever part of who we are.

I wish you all the best in your own re-discovery of breath.

Sounds very interesting, says the man opposite me. Noticing his eyes glaze over, it feels safe to assume the conversation between us has been anything but interesting.

This is Tim. Having met only ten minutes ago at a friends birthday dinner, I notice he is desperately looking around for someone to come and save him. I do not mind. This often happens when I get over-excited about breath. Breath and breathing techniques have long been a beautiful madness of mine. To be fair, he was the one that got me started. Should someone show even the slightest interest in breath, too easily do I leap into a conversation about its potential miracles. I am certain everyone would if they knew what was possible.

Another few minutes of awkwardness pass. I notice Tims face has changed from mild helplessness to intense focus; it seems to me like he is working out how to excuse himself from the table.

If only I had sat there! I imagine him to be thinking, as he gazes at chairs further down the table. I feel my breath catch on the uneasiness. Actually, I quite enjoy these clumsy moments. They are an opportunity to practise what I am always encouraging others to do: to breathe into whatever arises and stay present in the face of discomfort. Bolstered by this reminder, my own breath noticeably deepens. It is almost exciting watching myself return to balance simply from breathing.

To recapture Tims interest, I decide to share a breathing technique with him. Now really who wouldnt be fascinated to learn there is a breath for everything? My mind races to decide which will most effectively reveal breaths wonder.

Okay! There are the essentials: the techniques that could help Tim have an amazing nights sleep, unwind from stress or improve his posture; or maybe we should talk about more specialist practice: breaths to help improve his fitness or alleviate health concerns such as asthma and high blood pressure. Oh but wait! What about the life-transforming techniques: the ones that relieve pain, clear anxiety or induce a whole-body orgasm?

Stop! roars a voice in my mind. Noticing my breath has stalled once again, it is clear I am still trying too hard. As it returns, relaxed and slow, I am reminded of something important; something we all come to learn about this extraordinary, life-essential process. Breath is meaningless without connection; just movements of air pulled in and out of our atmosphere. A breath must be felt for it to touch a heart.

I decide to hold my next breath deep in my lungs. I find this helps to slow me down. Quickly, I notice everything turns quiet. Where there had been such urgency to share some amazing breath-related insight with Tim now only felt peaceful and still. What is this sensation? I enquired within. It was trust.

I could trust that everything was as it was meant to be. Perhaps my excitement had been a little intense for Tim but, somehow, this had been necessary. Giving breath a voice always feels sacred in this respect, like planting a seed in the earth. An image of a sapling sprouting from the soil and spreading itself into a humongous, deeply rooted tree plays in my mind. Everything goes quiet again. It is as though a breeze has brushed my cheeks and rustled the imaginary leaves that tower over my head. Something is coming. I can feel it. In anticipation, my spine begins to tingle and then words I once heard materialise out of nothing behind my eyes: from little acorns do mighty oaks grow.

Feeling the excitement of it all, I find myself taking a sharp breath in and holding onto it, tightly. As I let my breath go, I feel I can let the whole topic of breathing go with it. It does not take long for Tims startled eyes to soften and for him to finally settle at the table. I think changing the topic to bees helped. It turns out these pollinating wonders are his favourite! Tactfully, I manage to steer clear from discussing how they breathe. What a shame. There is something otherworldly about their pore-like spiracles and muscleless airflow.