We Have Forgotten to Breathe: An Invitation to Return to Our Breath

Breath is the most vital element of human life. Nothing is more immediately necessary or more holistically nourishing, and yet… Something has changed in the human experience over time… Simply put, we have forgotten to breathe.

Breathing is an autonomic nervous system process, meaning we don't have to think about it. Ahhh, so what do I mean when I say “we have forgotten how to breathe”?

The autonomic nervous system consists of three sub-systems.

• Sympathetic nervous system (SNS): This system is responsible for the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. It does a fantastic job of helping us push through when it senses danger.

• Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS): This system controls the body's “rest-and-digest” processes.

• Enteric nervous system: This lesser-known system manages how the body digests food.

When the brain perceives something as threatening… Whether that threat is physical, emotional, remembered, or anticipated... the SNS activates the fight-or-flight response, and our breathing changes as the body prepares for action. Our breath generally becomes faster and shallower as the body prepares to increase oxygen availability, and it tends to stop at the chest, never reaching our diaphragm.

The body is a sophisticated and intelligent organism, divinely designed to heal and adapt… When I said we have forgotten how to breathe, I was putting my finger to the pulse of the body’s intelligence.

We live in a day and age when many of us have nervous systems that have adapted so beautifully to the threats that are part of our lived experience that our natural breathing patterns have become restricted. We often breathe shallowly as a normal state. We also often catch ourselves holding our breath. In fact… I just caught myself holding my breath while typing this!

The autonomic nervous system does our breathing automatically, whether we think about it or not, but today I invite you to start thinking about your breath.

When we start thinking about how we take in and exhale air, we can be more deliberate about our breathing… and the benefits of consciously breathing are outstanding after living so long breathing the way we have been.

Let’s look at just a few of the many things that begin to improve…

A proper, oxygenating breath cycle expands the belly, flattens and lengthens the diaphragm, and then completely empties the lungs, in and out through the nose. And… some schools of thought believe the fewer breath cycles we do per minute, the better we are doing!

Breath is just as important to the body's energy as the food we nourish ourselves with! Our cells need oxygen to create energy, and this breathing style brings air to the blood all the way down to the bottom of our lungs, not just the upper region, oxygenating more blood that then delivers oxygen to all the cells in our bodies. We can feel foggy-headed or confused, experience reduced attention span, or feel drowsy when we breathe shallowly or regularly hold our breath. One of the first places I noticed the effects of conscious breathing was in my brain function.

One of the most powerful effects, though not always felt as immediately as an increase in mental (and physical) energy, is the positive signal we send to our PNS (parasympathetic nervous system). Slow, full conscious breath cycles signal to our PNS that we are safe. Our nervous systems are always processing input to help predict danger… Conscious breathing helps the body relax and stop bracing. The more often we do this, reinforcing safety to the nervous system, the more long-term positive effects we can begin to feel.

A benefit of conscious breathing that might surprise you at first is how positively it can affect our relationships. This is, of course, directly related to presence, which is coupled with embodiment. When we begin to think about our breathing and take the journey to conscious breathing, our nervous systems receive reinforcement, our mental clarity strengthens, and, little by little, we can become more embodied. Meaning… We become more aware of what is true through the felt sense in our bodies, allowing us to be more responsive (when needed) and less reactive. A beautiful inner harmony begins to show itself and… as within, so without… That inner harmony moves outward into our environments and relationships.

The final example of the positive effects of conscious breathing that I'd like to share today is spiritual. When we consider all that I’ve already shared, we can see how conscious breathing can impact our spiritual life, too. Increased mental clarity, a supported nervous system, a more embodied state, and greater inner and outer harmony strengthen our perception, help us discern what is ours and what is “other,” and usher in an element of ease we may not have felt before.

If you feel you don't have enough time or money to offer yourself the kind of self-care that can powerfully and positively impact your life… I am here to remind and encourage you that the simple act of conscious breathing is the most immediate, sustainable, and accessible tool I’ve put in my tool belt.

Perhaps it can be for you too!

About the Author: Mary Szenasi

Mary Szenasi is a psycho‑spiritual, neuro‑emotional, and somatic practitioner based in Charleston, Tennessee. With a foundation in allopathic medicine and studies at the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago, Mary spent 16 years in the medical field before turning toward holistic healing after her own profound journey through trauma, recovery, and self‑examination.

She later founded Sacred Wisdoms, a 508c1a Private Membership Association Ministry offering donation‑based resources, seasonal workshops, and international community connection. Mary’s work blends depth psychology, astrology, mindfulness, herbalism, aromatherapy, crystal therapy, shadow work, dream analysis, shamanic journeying, ritual, and trauma‑informed nervous system support.

Today, she brings her integrative, intuitive approach to Lunar Womb, supporting women in living more examined, embodied, and vibrant lives.