Biological Resonance

The concept of biological resonance is an essential part in the work of managing biological frequency. Resonant frequency is a core principle of Hara breathing and right-breathe and we would do well to understand this foundational element in contextualising frequency. I believe anyone shilling-breathing who does not account for this cannot offer life-long structural biological change.

Although there are operationalist definitions for resonance in much of the biological literature, it is often used intuitively. Cardio-pulmonary-specific work references resonance in a technical way for sure; but not always. And for good reason. I hope after you’re through with this article, you have an intuitive and organic feel for the concept of resonance and how it relates to breath.

“…resonance means a condition in which an oscillating system shows the maximum amplitude response to an alternating driving force” (Schaffer – 2007)

Physics views resonance as the vibratory frequency of any system. To make something resonate, we need to understand its resonant frequency – once energy is added, to ascertain the rate at which the system in question vibrates. 

Generally, determining frequency is achieved through stimulating a system with different frequencies. And whilst applying energy, measuring the system’s ‘vibratory’ responses. The response we’re looking for in our cardio-pulmonary system is maximal efficient amplitude. Like all matrices in nature, the human body and cardio-pulmonary processes demonstrate resonance at the right frequency. And we can measure it.

Resonance is best measured by Heart Rate Variability (HRV), venous return, arterial pressure and the blood wave associated with it. Autonomic Nervous System Balance (ANS) is an outcome of all these factors. Autonomic balance is the very thing that we’ve argued is reflected by HRV in prior newsletters. 

This is a complex dynamic interplay, or dance within us. Complexity of environmental factors and how they interact with our internal systems further compound the difficulty of understanding these interactions. For sure, many volumes need to be written on this. 

Proper breathing necessarily induces a specific resonant frequency when the ANS, and other biometrics are measured. Adjusting breath according to bio-feedback is the key with breath work. It is the key because personal resonance is what we’re striving for – the point of maximal efficiency in the interplay of these various systems.

The oft-given example of resonance is that of a swing in a park. A child swinging and an adult pushing the swing. We all know that when swinging, we can find the zone or point in which we can swing the highest whilst exerting the least possible – or optimal effort. Resonance is a way to describe our cardio-pulmonary and respiratory sweet spot.

Too much effort and energy? The swing will become unstable, loosening and perhaps becoming dangerous over subsequent cycles. If not enough effort is put in, exerted in the wrong way at the incorrect point within the swing system, the swing will drop in height, and great effort will be required to recover resonance.

Breathwork is much the same. The system’s frequency of resonance – the system’s point of optimal efficiency and coherence, is the key to all our breath work. This is the very thing that will induce maximal, resonant amplitude of HRV. Blood around the body, gaseous exchange, circulation, organ regulation and autonomic balance.

Not all breathwork achieves this task. Indeed, our everyday breathing habits are shabby and pathetic. Lowly byproducts of nerdoid tendencies, of a lesser, anxious animal. Living in a word daze, obsessed with political frenzy and the worthless, formless burblings of deluded cretins. These are all sympathetic dominant characteristics. And we need to learn to apply the brakes.

Because we know this is the problem. Imagine thinking you can overlay word structures on reality and have it mean or do anything, to fix a problem that is of the blood and sinew. Are we all into Harry Potter that much? Do we like only to imagine things? Do we like magic spewls? Do we refuse to change something physical, preferring to imagine with words?

Another Key Problem in losing resonant frequency with breath: Too much effort, too much forcing. I would imagine this would be the statue-head esoteric rights’ primary issue since they feel they must rageagainst life to make up for their intrinsic self-hatred. Raging, that’s for sure.

HRV often becomes less stable and diminishes in amplitude and resonance with too much effort. Rather like our swing example. Balancing the ANS then is not an easy task; resonance is highly individual and must be worked with as such – my own results over the last few months measuring HRV, Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and blood wave data indicate this. The last thing we want to promote is the swing becoming highly unstable. This remains a risk, without the right tutelage.

HRV results from intrinsic autonomic state. It is the only metric, non-invasive, that gives us insight. Resonance, for breathing, is, therefore, a function of blood flow and circulation – induced by breathing through thoracic pressure. HRV is downstream of this. It is commonly accepted as offering us the best insight into the state of our ANS.

And like our swing, many people haven’t mustered enough energy to exert maximal amplitude, and others, they’re breathing too intense and too deep, too quickly. Threatening to derail the entire project. Many people have superman syndrome; we keep thinking we’re some kind of spiritual hero. Just relax. On the exhale, sink. Let go. Letting go is applying the parasympathetic brakes.

Finding your unique personal, resonant frequency – is the real goal of all this work. Our work. This is true, life-changing work. The key to unlocking our individual organisms’ overall biological frequency. True vitality.

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