Enriching Our Bodies with Oxygen

In our Gentle Yoga practice, breathing is very important, as we move through our sequence of movements and postures. The long, slow elongated breath is a means of getting more oxygen into our bodies which is so essential for the integrity of the brain, nerves, glands and internal organs. We can do without food for weeks and without water for days, but without Oxygen, we will die within a few minutes. If the brain does not get its proper supply of this essential nutrient, it will result in the degradation of all vital organs in the body.

The brain requires more oxygen than any other organ. If it doesn’t get enough, the result is mental sluggishness, negative thoughts and depression and, eventually, vision and hearing decline. Scientists have discovered that the chemical basis of energy production in the body is a chemical called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). If something goes wrong with the production of ATP, the result is lowered vitality, disease and premature ageing. Scientists have also discovered that oxygen is critical for the production of ATP; in fact, it is its most vital component.