Breath does not belong to any religion. It belongs to all beings and breath meditation can be practiced by all. We are breathing every minute of our lives. Breath meditation is good for health and deals with the energy in the body. If we breathe properly, we allow the energy to flow smoothly without any obstruction and remain healthy.

For breath meditation, as in any other meditation, you need to sit straight with your spine erect. A quiet place should be chosen and the meditator can sit cross-legged or on a chair. Start watching your breath, in, out, in, out. One can feel the breath coming in and out at the nose, the chest, the stomach or any other part of the body. We can also observe the way our stomach expands when we breathe in and contracts when we breathe out. Be aware of the sensations as you breathe in and out. As we keep watching our breathing, there are many thoughts in our mind which distract us from our breathing. This may happen but the meditator should continue to come back to the breath observation. Slowly, she will find that the thoughts are becoming less and one is watching the thoughts while being aware of the breath at the same time.

As the thoughts start becoming less, the breathing also starts becoming slower. After some time, it is almost inperceivable and can be felt like a string between the nose and the lungs, coming and going. The meditator may also have an experience of kumbhak or rechak(stopping of incoming breath or of outgoing breath) at times. This brings stillness of the mind and body to such an extent that the mind and body cease to exist for a moment or while, depending on the intensity of the meditation. The energy can be felt surging upwards in the body. The meditator feels a sense of inner peace and relaxation. Though breathing is the initial stage of meditation, it can be quite powerful. Without depending on any music or meditation instructions, the meditator is able to go into meditation just by being aware of his breath. So, it reduces dependence on external elements. Just a few minutes of breath meditation can reduce stress in a person’s life and enable him to think objectively and positively.

In Buddhist breath meditation, the meditator feels the inhalation at the end of the skull and feels it going down all the way to the end of the spine and then all the way to the right foot and out again. For women, they need to start with their left side and men, with their right side. Now, let the breath come down through both shoulders, arms, wrists and hands and back into the air.Then, from the front of the skull, the head, the forehead, the face, the throat, the chest, the stomach and again out into the air. This gives the meditator a feeling of well-being.

The meditator can also concentrate on the breathing at the tip of the nose, the middle of the head, the palate, the base of the throat, the breastbone or the navel. This meditation can also be done while walking. Breath meditation allows the meditator to remain the present, while concentrating on the breath.

Breath meditation helps in improving our relationships with others and managing our anger better. Some methods of breath meditation include counting of the breath, another way to ensure remaining in the present. Pranayam can be blended into breath meditation. Ujjayi, bhastrika and kapalbhati have been successfully used in breath meditation. Oorja meditation of Gurumaa takes the meditator into thoughtlessness very fast.