The breath is life – breathe well, and you will live long
The breath is life
The breath is our constant companion throughout our lives, from our first breath, the moment we are born, until our very last. However, how often do we pay attention to how we breathe? How many times a day do you stop and pay attention to the depth of your inhales or the length of your exhales? Have you ever paused for long enough to observe the subtle moment of stillness at the peak of your inhale or at the end of your exhale? If we were the betting type, we’d wager a hefty sum that this is not something most of us do regularly.
Becoming a watcher
At the start of each Yoga practice, you will often be asked to sit comfortably, become still and “tune into your breath”. You are being asked to become a watcher or an observer of your breath. The idea is to turn your consciousness from your external environment inwards and start to notice the intricacies of this delicate string that constantly moves through you.
Breathe through it
In Yoga, when we practice the “asanas” or “poses”, we work with the body by either synchronising the movement with the inhale or exhale or observing the breath whilst holding a particular pose for an extended amount of time. Moving and observing the breath through various postures works to unify the two different aspects of your being (Yoga means to unify). For most, it creates this lovely sense of being hypnotised by both elements of you that are constantly in the present moment – the body and the breath. Neither gets wrapped up in the past or future; they are always in the place where life exists – the present. Drawing your consciousness to the present allows you just to be. Sorry for those looking for instant results or quick goals. But to those who have experienced this, how nice is it to just “be” sometimes? There are no expectations or goals or eureka moments or anything like that; you are simply creating the space where you can just be yourself.
Change your Mood
Have you ever noticed how your breath changes when you become angry, nervous, or stressed? Oftentimes, without knowing or being aware of it, when we are in a heightened state of emotion, our breath shortens. It becomes shallow and even restricted by holding the breath. If we regularly experience these emotions, breathing in this way can become a pattern or habit, meaning that even when in a calm or restful situation, poor breathing habits can trigger those negative emotions and catapult us back into a state of anxiety and unease. The simple answer is to become aware of how you breathe and establish a new pattern of fullness with constant softness and ease.
Give it a go!
Practice this for one whole day and see how you feel at the end. The idea is that, irrespective of the situation you find yourself in, whether it’s a negative or positive one, your fullness of breath helps you approach each moment with a sense of calmness and peacefulness, setting you up for a pleasant day, every day! So, no fancy breathing practices in this post – step one is to become the watcher.