No time to fit breathwork into your practice or your day? Too many more important things to do!
Our breath is literally what keeps us alive, twenty four- seven….and yet, so often, we go through the day chronically shallow breathing, completely unaware of this life force….denying ourselves the breaths full benefits… I was especially ignorant of the benefits of stillness, noticing, breath connection, when I just wanted a workout or to get my tick list done.
Now more than ever breathwork has become a powerful and relevant practice. For me and for those in my care. Breath is our rhythm, our energy, our connection to self…our very life force.
It doesn’t have to be a fancy technique and it doesn’t need a long period ( although longer is lovely)…conscious awareness of your breath, or ‘prams’ is a practice that is thousands of years old, and while there are many variations, styles and names, all types of breathwork offer the chance for self awareness, calm, personal growth, emotional and physical wellbeing. Focused breath awareness not only helps us to breathe more deeply and feel resourced, but also expands our ability to listen and learn and show up for ourselves and others.
It is now the norm to see exercise as a great regulator of physical and emotional health and to assist with cognition, reduce the effects of aging, the list goes on…most of us are trying to get onboard which is great news. Only 150 years ago physical activity was considered to leave one dull-minded and it was actually a raised objection by the educated groups,
From 1920 on Swami Kuvalayananda took it upon himself to bring physical education, with the addition of yoga asanas, into the Indian school curriculum. It was amazing for an ardent nationalist to have been selected by the Britisher government of the day to appoint him to this role in 1932.
And aren’t we all now thankful for that!
Ironically in today’s active, over-worked world we have almost swung the other way, needing to be reminded to literally relax, slow down, learn how to breathe, In current times of required isolation how many of us are actually finding the balance between enough activity to stimulate the body and brain and adequate rest to relax breath to restore the nervous function, bring relief, even lightness to our inner emotional world? With so many experiencing a load of stress, even anxiety in these times, it takes its load on brain function and how well we can emotionally process all that’s coming at us.
One outcome of that stress load alters synapses leading to a disruption in communication between neurons ( and elements earth solidify, fire warmth, water cohesion, wind motion vibration) we become stagnant.
Stuck physically and emotionally.
This can result in chronic pain, depression, negative or stagnant mindset.
So, how do we find a way to incorporate breath work into our daily routine?
Just start by being aware, notice your breath, feel where the inhale ( breath in) meets the exhale (breath out).
That is mindfulness.
Just aware without choosing, rejecting, liking, disliking, balance the awareness and breath.
You may begin to gently deepen the breath perhaps inhale for 3 counts, exhale for 6.
Drawing in positive energy to nurture, heal refresh, breathing out any negative energy, toxins, stress.
Do this for a few minutes (I often do this in the carpark at school pick up or at Woolworths!) or for a longer period if you can gift yourself the time.
If the mind wanders that’s ok, just acknowledge that and draw your focus back to the present moment, each single valuable breath.
That single unique breath will never come again.
Try it, feet it, weave it into your day your way.
There are so many apps (calm is my favourite ) and YouTube tips to help get you started. Including this simple one on my webpage and IGTV.
When getting started keep it simple – try it, feel it, weave it into your day your way.
