Nose Breathing, Job Satisfaction and Sadhguru

January 14, 2024

I heard nose breathing is excellent for exercise performance.

Topic submitted by: Anna T. from Austin, TX

Yes! Here’s why nose breathing is a game-changer for your workouts:

Signals safety to your brain (neuroreceptors in your nose send messages of security to your brain, reducing feelings of stress. This allows you to go harder for longer as a result.)
Creates a stronger circulatory system (breathing through your nose reduces your heart-rate. The slower heart rate becomes stronger and more efficient to compensate, improving your overall circulatory health.)
Experience faster recovery times (only nose breathing brings in nitric oxide, an important molecule that helps your cells absorb more oxygen. Greater oxygen absorption = faster and deeper recovery.)

Many people try to incorporate nose breathing into their fitness routines, but quit when they feel out of breath.

This is totally normal, but not ideal.

Practice

To make nose breathing easier during exercise, here’s what you can do the next time you are out of breath:

Stand tall! Place your hands above your head and take 3 full inhales through your nose. From there, take a mouth or breath or two before switching back to 3 full inhales through your nose. Repeat until you feel recovered and can breathe solely through your nose.

Standing tall and placing your hands above your head expands your torso and lungs, making it much easier for you to hold air and recover.

And by taking a few nose breaths in-between your mouth breaths, you train your body to do it on a regular basis until you can breathe solely through your nose.

I’m not satisfied with my job, but I need the money.

Topic submitted by: Alex R. from Missoula, MT

First and foremost: you are exactly where you need to be. Just because you are dissatisfied, doesn’t mean you are doing things wrong.

That said, it’s time for a change.

Why?

Because that feeling of dissatisfaction doesn’t go away until you make a change. Whether it’s tomorrow or 20 years from now, you will eventually get sick of feeling dissatisfied, and will be willing to risk your current version of stability in hopes of a brighter future.

I feel you, though. I remember telling my life coach: “I don’t know what I want, but it’s definitely not this.” [Referring to the 9 → 5 job I was working at at the time].

In hindsight, I did know what I wanted: to live life on my own terms, to learn yoga, to spend each day in gratitude. My real problem was the fear of not being able to support myself under that beautiful vision.

So here’s what I suggest:

Start with a dream. If you had enough money to support all of your base needs, how would you spend your time? Would you travel the world? Start a business? Learn to cook?

By planting a seed of excitement in your mind, you’ll override the initial feelings of scarcity and doubt.

After all, fear says “no, no, no, no, no!!!” And courage says “yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!”

Further, by starting to imagine your ideal life, you’ll be inspired to take the next step.

“Don’t think spirituality means having a nice, quiet life — it means being on fire.” — Sadhguru

Quote submitted by: Dario B. from San Marcos, Guatemala

I used to believe that “spiritual people” were tucked away in distant caves, meditating away all of their Earthly desires until they disappeared from this 3D plane.

I now understand that “spiritual people” are the ones living entirely in their calling (aka their dharma).

Yes, some humans will be called to the caves and monasteries to quiet their mind, burn off attachments and transcend their physical incarnation.

But I suspect most people don’t want that yet — you and me included.

Instead, many humans want an incredibly rich material existence — one filled with delicious food, unencumbered creativity and even the daily humdrum of doing chores.

“Being on fire” simply means having the spark of God catalyzing and informing your every move, no matter how ordinary and meaningless it may seem to be.

You don’t just cut the vegetables, take a shower, or watch a sunset. You infuse your entire being into each chop! You are enraptured the warmth and pleasure of the water! You are moved to tears by the beauty of the reds and purples!

Being on fire, and therefore spirituality, means living earnestly — like your life depends on how involved you are in it.