What does it feel like to breathe?

It feels better than not breathing.  Oh, yes, we take breathing for granted, ya ya I'm breathing involuntarily of course I'm breathing.  No... wait, I've stopped breathing. Oh shit! not good- breathe...try to breathe, gasp, gasp,fuck!  open your mouth dammit.
aaaaaahaaaahhhh, thank you god.  I can't believe what just happened again.

Waiting to Exhale... breathing in and not being able to breathe out.  Shit! what the hell? HEEEEELP!  I'm in trouble, sit up, clutch throat, think! think! panic die? aaargh,
try to release my exhale, how? try to take another tiny breath in,no air moving, try to inhale to exhale.  God.  inhale, how? try! tiny breath in - ohmygawd, it let go. stunned,  Must tell doctor about this.    Try to forget about this freaky thing and put head back on pillow - drifting - click, click, sharp whistle in myear - oh no, it's happening again...can't exhale. Sleep sitting up for the rest of the night. 

During the day - Involuntary Gasping.  Sitting watching tv or reading,really relaxed  mouth closed, a big gasp inside.  This went on for years.  When I told my family doctor about it, he was totally disinterested.  The sleep clinic doctor was very interested in failure to exhale but offered nothing up, though diagnosed me with Sleep Apnea.  He said I stopped breathing only 11 or 12 times per hour, and that was considered "on the cusp" for treatment by breathing machine at night. 

The most magical breathing I learned through yoga, the complete breathe.  It took me one year to be able to do that.  It is wonderful to breathe into each section of your body and feel the energy,.  I am most thankful to all my yoga teachers over the years who have been some of my best spiritual teachers.

Breathing is an important part of meditation.  I can also use the breath to control my pulse - and blood pressure.  My doc was shocked when he took my BP and said it was a bit high.  I told him I would lower it by the time he came back in a few minutes.  I was able to breathe my BP lower.  I can make my pulse rate go up or down on a hospital monitor - long hours in the emergency room taught me that.  I think it is how biofeedback works.  Can't tell you how to do it.  It has something to do with how we breathe.  Don't take it for granted - it is a magical thing. - each breath.  Love the fact that you are breathing!