You can survive without food for weeks, without water for
days but without oxygen for only minutes! But most of us
spend very little time thinking about our breath. As the
Oxford University Press reminds us, "In earlier years
breathing was synonymous with life itself, for with the
'last breath' its absence signified death and departure of
the soul." Similarly, in yoga, the Sanskrit word for
breath is prana, which also means life force energy.
When we bring our consciousness to our breath, we slow down
and we begin to realize the deeper layers of ourselves, our
thoughts and feelings. Did you know that when we are under
stress some of us actually hold our breath? Other times, we
just breath very shallow. We are unconsciously stopping our
life force and causing even more stress in our body. If you
start practicing conscious breathing (purposefully focusing
on and noticing your breath) your body will relax and the
mind will become more focused.
The breath can be more than a bodily function, it can be a
powerful stress reduction tool and a trusted friend. It is
always there for you. When you give your attention to it,
it brings you inward, away from all the external, busy-ness
and into the present moment. Throughout the book,
Practicing The Power of NOW, Eckhart Tolle suggests using
the breath as a tool for coming into the NOW.
Focus on the breath and the mind naturally slows down while
the body relaxes. The "monkey mind" becomes less jumpy.
Most meditation practice includes some form of breath
awareness, since it relaxes the body and focus the mind.
Try out the following stress reduction strategies.
Useful tips: 1.Next time you are feeling tense or confused,
shift your focus to your breath. Notice how your breath is
moving in your body (or not moving, if your holding your
breath). Then count each inhale and exhale, silently, "One"
on the inhale, "Two" on the exhale, etc. 2. For even deeper
relaxation, try counting only the exhales. 3. For more
concentration, focus on the space between the breath. The
space where the exhale becomes the inhale and the inhale
becomes the exhale, etc.
Practicing breath awareness regularly brings an inner
peacefulness and deep relaxation. As thoughts slow down,
and the mind becomes clear, you may become aware of
limiting thoughts to release, you may make space for new
thought patterns and you may connect with insight and deep
wisdom. "Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this
very moment is only one you know you have for sure" ~ Oprah
Windfrey.
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Rena Hatch, wise woman life coach, certified yoga teacher
empowers women to gain confidence and inner peace through
individual life coaching, weekend retreats
http://www.LunaGaia.com , free daily guided meditations
http://www.BLISSciplineAIM.com .
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