REMEMBER that Police hit that started with "Every breath you take, Every move you make, ...I'll be watching you...."? Manic lovers and stalkers could certainly relate to that but wring out that wash of obsessive love and you could take a healthier cue from it.
Observing your own breathing patterns and correcting them could seriously improve your quality of life, say scientists. Yogis have long known that proper breathing enhances longevity and mindfulness, and so the art of breathing has been embedded in many yoga classes.
But it is seldom that it is explored fully.
"Breathing is so simple and difficult at the same time and we always have excuses to not breathe correctly," says Dominique Andre Lonchant, who has been teaching pranayama, the art of breath control, for more than 30 years.
"If we allow the thoracic cage to work properly, we are going to avoid a lot of stressrelated diseases. Breathing right also allows you to clear all the blockages that you have created with your stresses."
Dominique, who has established his base in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, teaches pranayama at health spas around the world, such as the luxurious Six Senses Resorts in Thailand, and to actors and singers who desire fuller vocal projection. His clients have included Tiara Jacquelina and Joanne Kam Poh Poh.
More recently, Dominique has been a subject of study of Dr Paul Johnson, a clinical physiologist from Oxford University specialising in cardio-respiratory conditions.
Dominique comes from a family
line of healers.
Johnson says scientific research shows that breathing slowly - at six breaths per minute - improves the co-ordination of cardiovascular and brain rhythms.
He found that Buddhist monks chanting the Pali yoga mantra Om Manipadme Om breathe at six per minute and that their biorhythms become co-ordinated by the chanting (the normal frequency for adults is 12-15 breaths a minute).
Under testing during periods of rest and for long periods of time during sleep, Johnson found Dominique, who has mastered yogic breathing, to have the exceptional rate of two breaths per minute! Yogic breathing, says Johnson, is an effective way of balancing the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which underlies health and wellbeing and which influences psychological and stressrelated disorders.
Consequently, it can reduce the risks of chronic lifestylerelated diseases such as a weakened immune system, heart diseases, and sleep disorders.
Johnson, a pioneer in developing and using body sensors to measure the dynamic condition of the ANS "round the clock", continues to conduct research at the Sukkasart Institute for Healing Arts in Thailand. He believes that a fusion of Eastern and Western medicine holds the key to developing a global wellness-based service.
Jean Michel Piedaguel, 43, felt his job was, metaphorically speaking, kicking the breath out of him. Attached to an international charity that worked in war zones, he had to deal daily with the stresses of a high-pressured job.
"Physically and mentally I was coming to a limit to what I could continue to do." Jean had been practising yoga for more than five years but felt he needed more.
"It was clear to me breathing was an answer as soon as I started." Jean sought out Dominique for lessons because he had heard of his specially adapted 15 pranayama techniques based on the ancient methods.
"With the correct techniques, you quickly go into another level without even noticing," Jean explained. "Just keeping to the 15 I was taught was effective enough for me, I didn't need to go into the numerous others." Jean said after a while, one gets used to this "quality" breathing.
"My quality of life has improved remarkably. If I had to choose between yoga and breathing because of a lack of time, I would choose the breathing." It's something everyone can do, he adds. "You don't need to be physically fit to do this." Obviously pranayama can complement other exercise regimens, but Johnson also describes it as "a complete wellbeing programme in its own right".
Dominique comes from a long family line of healers. He lost interest in formal schooling in his late teens but showed an ability to grasp knowledge quickly. Having taught himself several foreign languages, including English, the Frenchman felt himself drawn to Eastern holistic studies.
He eventually found his way to the Ananda ashram in Pondicherry, where yoga had been taught for 800 years.
Under guidance of Dr Swami Gitananda, he set his mind to learning the limbs of yoga.
Dominique's mastery of pranayama enhanced his prana or life-force and he developed psychic abilities which he, however, prefers not to flaunt.
His philosophy in life is simple: "Be good to yourself first, selfish in a nice way. If your body is well and your mind is happy, then you're in balance with yourself. You are then strong enough to take care of others too."
