The Art of Breathing

Cultivating Our Life Force Energy

In the yogic traditions that came out of India, there are many practices to help a practitioner purify the body and mind to settle into a state of meditation.

You may be familiar with the practice of yoga posture that is now found in many yoga studios worldwide. You may have heard of — or even practiced — sitting meditation.

But underlying these practices is a more subtle practice of learning to manage the flow of the breath.

The Art of Breathing

The art of breathing is a practice in itself. Nowhere else is such untapped power to be found within our reach, literally right under our noses. This is where all mindfulness practices begin and is also the foundation for the most subtle and advanced practices.

As you move through the practice, the quality of your breath gives you clues.

As a general rule: inhale up, exhale down. Inhales accompany expansive, opening, uplifting movements, while exhales accompany strengthening and grounding movements.

Gasping and panting remind us to take it easy; shallow breath limits our movement potential. Breath generally avoids tight spots; relaxing extends an invitation to the breath to soften those areas.

Tuning In to the Breath

When we learn to read the breath, we learn to maintain harmony in the body.

If you have ever paid attention to how much breath is wasted each day in non-essential activities? We speak more often than necessary out of societal obligations. We huff and puff when we could slow down and move in flow. We hold our breath when feeling overwhelmed or afraid.

How much breath do you waste each day?

The Practice of Breathing

The formal technique of breathing practice is called pranayama.

When I first discovered this practice, I was a student in India, studying Ashtanga yoga with my teachers. Never had I experienced such radical changes in my awareness until I started practicing pranayama.

Prana is sometimes translated as “life force”, and sometimes, rather imprecisely, as “breath.” This confusion is understandable, as the prana is said to ride the breath, and since it is otherwise impossible to see or measure prana, the breath is the only manifest indication we have to observe the flow of prana.

Pranayama practice consists of different ways of manipulating or “stretching” (ayama) the breath in order to move the prana.

Why It’s Important To Keep Prana Flowing

When we have blockages in our system, due to injury, illness or years of patterned behaviors, prana can stagnate, and in essence, boycott certain areas of the body and mind.

Working with the breath in pranayama practice can help dissolve these obstacles and create clear pathways in the subtle energy channels of the body. Then the life force can flow freely, unobstructed.

The results are sometimes intangible, but clearly noticeable. When someone radiates good health, prana is thriving. An example from nature is a vibrant and healthy garden — which is filled with prana.

The simplest way to begin a pranayama practice is to spend some time exploring the breath in a supine position.

Simple Breathing (Pranayama) Practice

~ Lie on the floor with the feet up by the hips, knees toward the ceiling.

~ Separate the feet about the width of your hips.

~ Place the fingers on the low belly, about 3 inches below the navel.

~ Notice the movement of the belly or the lack of it as you breathe.

~ Spend a few minutes just watching the relationship between the belly’s movement and the breath.

The Art Of Breathing Life Into Your Body

Relax the muscles of the face, and relax the jaw and tongue. Gradually emphasize the deepening of the breath so that the belly rises and falls with each inhale and exhale, respectively. Spend a few moments just observing the breath without trying to do anything particular with it. Just watch.

Then gently narrow the throat as if you were going to whisper, or whisper the letter “h”, with the mouth closed. Let the aspirant sound deepen and lengthen the breath, both inhaling and exhaling. Keep the mouth soft, and breathe through the nose.

With practice, this sound becomes more and more subtle. Some liken the sound to Darth Vader. Those with more poetic tendencies think of wind rustling through the forest.

Breathe

Breathing is the essence of life. It is the thin thread that connects us to this life. When it breaks, we move to the afterlife. With such a powerful force within us, we can create anything in life.

We use breath when we speak, so it carries our communication with other beings. Notice your breath throughout the day and see how your awareness changes.

The art of breathing is one of the most powerful practices I know. In times of change or confusion, it can ground you in the present moment in a state of calm. In times of sadness, the breath can give you energy and inspiration. At any time, the practice of breathing with awareness can lead you to deep wisdom and inner knowing.

If you’d like to explore this practice, and other practices for developing wisdom, consider joining my free Patreon page, Art of Awakening.