The breathwork of Yoga - One breath at a Time
Posted: Friday, December 26, 2008
by KATE CUNNINGHAM
"One Breath At A Time"
What sets yoga apart from any other form of physical exercise? The breathwork. The breathwork is the key that opens the door to transformation on every level. Through the breathwork, we create the mind/body experience, which restores and unifies every part of us - body, mind, spirit and emotions, all flowing together as one. Let's look more closely at this body/mind experience. By "mind" in yoga, we are not talking about our thinking brain. We mean the total consciousness or intelligence within every atom of our being. In yoga, we send the "brain" on a much-deserved vacation and suspend analytical thinking altogether. We do this simply by focusing all of our attention on the breath, one breath at a time. It is not possible to think and to focus on your breath at the same time. But don't take my word for it. Prove it to yourself. Right now. Close your eyes and bring your awareness to your breath, just one deep, slow breath. Good. How do you feel? A little calmer? A little more relaxed? And after just one breath, mind you. Let's do it again, this time for three breaths. Make the breaths as long and deep as you can. Don't hurry them. Ok, close your eyes and go for it.
The challenge for every one of us is just that - to still the endless ramblings of our thinking mind that races relentlessly, even haphazardly from one thought to another. Paradoxically, by quieting ourselves, we improve mental clarity. Listening to a self-help CD on a road trip recently, I was startled to hear that we have over 60,000 thoughts a day and 95% of them were thoughts we had yesterday! Now that gave me pause for thought! Hmmmwhat exactly do I think about all dayyes, that and oh yes, that tooand ohmygod not that again, witnessing my own un-harnessed mental process. Alright, then, I'll stop thinking right here and now, I mused. So, as I ribboned a path through the verdant, rolling hills of northern California, I began a breath in and a breath out with no thoughts at all, placidly observing the black cows speckling the emerald hills, the abundant mighty oaks, the crisp blue sky, myself calmly present and connected to it all. Rest assured, it wasn't long before I found myself sucked back into the vortex, wondering whose dinner table those cows might end up on and what was an Angus steak anyway and were these the organic variety and what was a cow's lifespan until I suddenly realized that my momentary serenity had been surreptitiously snatched by no one but me. No getting around it, I was thief of my own peace of mind. Befuddled and amused, I could only surrender to my own humanity. I took a few more breaths in the moment, gratefully acknowledging the ancients who gifted us with the practice of yoga in the first place to still the noise, soften the shoulders and loosen the brain knots.
Yoga is called a way of life, a practice that becomes internalized over time, spilling out into our everyday lives. Remembering to consciously use the breathwork as a tool, we can instantly access the same peace, presence and grounding outside of our practice that we find within it. The breath is a compass that can redirect us as we navigate life's inevitable storms, making us master of our ship. So, remember your breath the next time you feel the turbulence gathering around you. Remember it and use it, one breath at a time. It could well be the difference between a shipwreck and a successful passage.
Kate Cunningham
2006 All Rights Reserved
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