<p>If the instruction says "breathe naturally" I think that means "just breathe" and "don't try to hyperventilate".</p>

<p>When I cycle (exercise) my breathing increases to meet the increased demand (and my heart does too) -- don't have to "force" that -- couldn't even stop if I wanted to!</p>

<p>So it's rare that I intentionally "force" a breath -- I think that "force" means "breathe before I need to", or "more than I need to"? -- I do that <em>rarely</em>, only to make a temporary surplus of oxygen, a few seconds before a sprint.</p>

<p>If you're worried, try <em>not</em> breathing?! Then instead of "you" forcing "the body" to breath, the body will force you to breathe! So I let the breath out, relax, pause, and the body takes another breath. And I let it breathe again before it becomes uncomfortable. And so the breathing (at rest, not during exercise) tends to be a little slower (waiting for the body), and deeper/bigger breaths.</p>

<p>That's my experience, perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong.</p>

<p>One other thing I've found useful to know of: if I do force the breath then I force it <em>out</em> (exhale), not <em>in</em>. If you only try to breathe <em>in</em>, without breathing out, then the lungs accumulate stale air. Better to breathe out, let go, then the body will breathe in again.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-15T06:11:20.300Z
2019-10-15T06:50:04.480Z
2019-10-15T06:50:04.480Z
ChrisW
<p>ChrisW's advice to <em>not</em> breath is a really good one.  I always use that method in my meditation when I find that I'm 'attacking' the breath or being otherwise willful with it.  Another method I'd add is 'waiting for the breath'.  Just sit and wait for breathing to happen - like you're sitting on a bench waiting for a bus to come.  Both will help you experience natural breathing.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-23T15:38:38.330Z
2019-10-23T15:38:38.330Z
user17169
<p>If your aim is vipassana then what forced the breath? If the breath is forced or not forced that is what is and can just be witnessed mindfuly as it happens. If the breath was seemingly controlled by you, were you in control if you couldn't even tell when you were forcing it or not?</p>

<p>If you just keep watching mindfully then you will see everything is rising and falling constantly while being forced  by nobody. </p>

<p>This tripped me up in the beginning. I was told to let it go because if I was controlling it or not, ultimately I wasn't in control anyway.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In whatever way objects come, do not try to change them. Whatever comes is the buddha-dharma, not objects at all.  Even if you try to control what comes, it cannot be controlled. -Dogen</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-15T06:55:47.910Z
2019-10-15T22:49:20.383Z
2019-10-15T22:49:20.383Z
Lowbrow
<p>When we do a simple observation of breath (in &amp; out) during meditation, how to know if its natural flow I am observing or forced one?</p>

<p>Regards</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-15T14:42:16.290Z
A forced breath requires a conscious effort to control it. A natural one simply requires some gentle watching or observing of the process.
santa100
<meditation><meditation-practicalities><meditation-breath>
How to differentiate between natural vs artificial breathing pattern during meditation?
# How to differentiate between natural vs artificial breathing pattern during meditation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-15)

When we do a simple observation of breath (in & out) during meditation, how to know if its natural flow I am observing or forced one?

Regards

**Tags:** meditation, meditation-practicalities, meditation-breath

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: A forced breath requires a conscious effort to control it. A natural one simply requires some gentle watching or observing of the process.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-10-15. Score: 3

If your aim is vipassana then what forced the breath? If the breath is forced or not forced that is what is and can just be witnessed mindfuly as it happens. If the breath was seemingly controlled by you, were you in control if you couldn't even tell when you were forcing it or not?

If you just keep watching mindfully then you will see everything is rising and falling constantly while being forced by nobody.

This tripped me up in the beginning. I was told to let it go because if I was controlling it or not, ultimately I wasn't in control anyway.

> In whatever way objects come, do not try to change them. Whatever comes is the buddha-dharma, not objects at all. Even if you try to control what comes, it cannot be controlled. -Dogen


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-10-15. Score: 1

If the instruction says "breathe naturally" I think that means "just breathe" and "don't try to hyperventilate".

When I cycle (exercise) my breathing increases to meet the increased demand (and my heart does too) -- don't have to "force" that -- couldn't even stop if I wanted to!

So it's rare that I intentionally "force" a breath -- I think that "force" means "breathe before I need to", or "more than I need to"? -- I do that *rarely*, only to make a temporary surplus of oxygen, a few seconds before a sprint.

If you're worried, try *not* breathing?! Then instead of "you" forcing "the body" to breath, the body will force you to breathe! So I let the breath out, relax, pause, and the body takes another breath. And I let it breathe again before it becomes uncomfortable. And so the breathing (at rest, not during exercise) tends to be a little slower (waiting for the body), and deeper/bigger breaths.

That's my experience, perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

One other thing I've found useful to know of: if I do force the breath then I force it *out* (exhale), not *in*. If you only try to breathe *in*, without breathing out, then the lungs accumulate stale air. Better to breathe out, let go, then the body will breathe in again.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-10-23. Score: 0

username_2's advice to *not* breath is a really good one. I always use that method in my meditation when I find that I'm 'attacking' the breath or being otherwise willful with it. Another method I'd add is 'waiting for the breath'. Just sit and wait for breathing to happen - like you're sitting on a bench waiting for a bus to come. Both will help you experience natural breathing.


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