Christina Gianoulakis, PhD a professor of psychiatry and physiology at McGill University, and colleagues published some interesting findings in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.  These findings showed that light to moderate drinking triggers “feel good” chemicals in the brain that can reduce anxiety, but heavier doses don’t.  Scientists in Canada say they’ve found that while low and moderate doses of alcohol produce a general feeling of well-being, having just a tad too much might reinforce the desire for more, or trigger depression or feelings of desperation.
“Drinking only low amounts of alcohol will increase endorphin release and produce pleasant effects. Thus, if after consumption of about two drinks of alcohol an individual does not experience the pleasant effects … he or she should stop drinking.” Gianoulakis says.

Personally, I believe that drinking can actually be a result of not being able to express feelings. Men especially tend to keep their feelings in to a level where they feel they might explode and so they drink and the body releases endorphins which make the person not feel pain- this is a lot like taking a drug. And like any drug, it can become addictive. So it becomes a pain management tool. Unfortunately it is it is not very healthy and can become increasingly dangerous over time.
The ancient yogis understood that the body has a wisdom of its own. In today’s technologically bombarded society, that wisdom is very often not listened to.  But if we become more attuned to our bodies and try hard to express the feelings and movements that it wants us to, then we are more likely to feel better.
The first step to becoming clear on what your feelings are (in order to express them healthily) is to become AWARE of your body and what it’s telling you.

Listen to it! Ask yourself:
What is my body saying to me?
What does my body think I should do in this situation?
What does my body need to express?
How can I calm it down?
How is the relationship between my mind and body? Am I listening to both?

There are a variety of ways to release endorphins that are non dangerous for you and these are via yoga, visualization and exercise to name a few. But, today I want to focus on one area.
Yogic deep breathing is just one great tool in that it helps you pay attention to your body and also acts as a bridge between the body and the mind.
Deep yogic breathing balances the pituitary gland (master gland which secretes endorphins) and helps alleviate stress. It also helps to release the endorphins into the body and give you an automatic high. Another important feature that deep breathing offers is the trigger that it evokes in the parasympathetic nervous system bringing about the relaxation response. Recent neuro-psychological studies have shown how yogic breathing is likely to affect stress response system in individuals while calming the mind and body. Deep breathing also comforts and soothes symptoms of trauma.

So let’s begin. Sit in a comfortable position. Place the tongue on the roof of the mouth and inhale as slowly as possible, allowing only a thin stream of air to flow.  When you can’t inhale any more air, begin to exhale at the same slow, steady pace.  Inhale and exhale just through the nose. Fill the lower portion of the lungs first, allowing the abdomen to expand then the middle (expanding the diaphragm) and then the top (expanding the chest).  Try to slow your breathing so that you’re inhaling 5 seconds and then exhaling 5 seconds. This stimulates your pituitary gland which controls your intuition and calms you. If you can slow down to 7 ½ seconds per inhale and exhale then you’ll activate your Pineal gland and get instant cosmic high.

Remember, your body is your car and your mind is the driver!! Think of breathing as the gas pedal that connects the driver w/the car and makes the car run smoothly!! You always want to go at a moderate and even pace. Don’t rush!! Breathing is what takes you on your journey in life! So breathe well. Let go of the fears. Love is what waits for you at the end of every finish line.