For two weeks, I practiced ratio breathing with the idea of getting up to 2:1, creating longer holds on the inhalations than holds on the exhalations to create an energizing pranayama practice preferably in the beginning of the day.
In Yoga, the habits we create and reinforce are referred to as samskaras, which is a Sanskrit term for these repetitive patterns and thoughts.
There is an interesting book (amazon link to book) I’ve been reading about meditation and it’s effect on the mind and body. It’s a collaborative piece written by multiple experts in the fields of Psycholoy, Buddhism, and health professions, such as neurology. In the portion of the book that talks about meditation and emotion, it describes…