#7, Exhale Your Problems, 40 Days of Self Appreciation

The practice of yoga is centered around the breath. Today yoga has become a sort of buzzword, and the rise in popularity of yoga in the West is a sign of our willingness to embrace other traditions and enthusiasm for exercising both the body and mind. The practice of yoga is deeper than just assuming physically demanding postures. The foundation of any yogic practice is the breath, and any practice of yoga without concentrated breathing can hardly be considered yoga at all.

I like to define yoga as the coming into union - of mind and body, self and spirit, man and nature - the union of all things. Thus the practice of yoga need not be confined to the mat but may be extended to all areas of life. Its a way of living in connection with our surroundings and allows us to remain centered amidst the turbulence of life. Breathing is often the first lesson taught by spiritual teachers. Its the obvious and most personal way for us to come into union with the energy of life because the breath is always present, it is automatic, and is the undeniable reality which we share. The breath is often taken for granted as we don’t need to think deliberately for our heart and lungs to keep going. But this fact is what makes it so powerful as a meditation technique. Because the breath is always present, it is a reliable tool for instant access to the eternal. It gets us out of the head and into the heart where healing can occur. When I notice that I have become distracted by judgment and mental concepts, the breath serves as a reminder to stay present.

Biologically speaking, by exhaling carbon dioxide you actually become lighter with each passing moment. When breathing deeply, I imagine the release of all the stress that I have been carrying and so I not only become lighter physically but also emotionally. I can enjoy more inner peace and freedom from attachment the more I am tuned in to the breath. This is why fasting and meditation go hand in hand. The act of fasting allows us to stay rooted in concentrated breathing for an extended period of time. It is like breathing one long sigh of relief. When we repeatedly fill our mouths and bellies with little time in between, the breath is short and shallow, the body is tense, and the mind is busy. We don't often give ourselves the chance to unwind, to loosen up and get free of the trappings of the thinking mind. The breath is a reminder of our own mortality - that nothing is permanent and that the breath and heart will one day cease to serve the body. Breathing ought to be regarded with such sanctity that to neglect these qualities is a grave sin to our health. But by recognizing the breath we take the one and only step necessary to achieve limitless joy peace happiness and contentment. Relax, get quiet and open the senses, observe the breath without forcing it, notice the rising and falling of the chest, feel the air in the nostrils, feel the heartbeat, notice thoughts come in and gently let them pass, don't try to capture any sensation, just let them be as they are. Feel yourself become lighter with every breath.