Just Breathe

Notice how you are breathing now. Assuming you are staring the computer, it is not likely you are gazing from a relaxed state of mind. You may notice yourself looking as you read, from a place of trying to figure it out, rather than allowing the information to come to you. This is your body’s reaction to the fight or flight response from over-stimulation, and your seeking ways to feel better is your body wanting to come into alignment with your natural well-being . It is remarkable that you have made it to this information: your life is never going to be the same as you learn to take in life and relieve yourself of the burden of restricting the flow. Life is being lived through you, and as you learn to breathe, you will release the natural flood of well being. Welcome to the sensational experience of this life. Welcome home.

Breath is life. Learning to breathe is a natural response to individuality assuming responsibility of empowering the world simply because of the embodiment of space. Notice when you are around someone who is stressed out, the natural instinct to restrict the breath. Notice also, when you feel relaxed, and can’t be bothered by other’s stress, you are less likely to take it on and so feel grounded in yourself and more than likely breathing! It is nearly impossible to allow your energy to be absorbed by negativity if you are breathing deeply. Inhaling, you have the option to take in new life in this moment now, and exhaling, you are granted the ability to release and let go of what is no longer serving you in order to awaken to a deeper experience of life. From here, you step forth on the journey, one breath at a time.

Deep belly breathing will give you the power to heal your life from the inside out. Fill your lungs from the bottom up, and release the air from the top down to the bottom is a smooth and effortless and natural process, which may have been interrupted if you are a human being alive today. What are some ways to grow more conscious with the breath? Teach yourself to breathe by focusing in on the breath. You will discover you have everything you need within the breath. Try this: the next time you are stressed about something, such as a relationship or needing to be other than you are at any point in time, bring your attention to the breath. Are you still trying to figure out what’s wrong with you or the world?

Become aware of the quality of the breath and how you are feeling. From there, as you inhale, push the stomach forwards as you breathe in. Then, push the ribs sideways while still breathing in and finally, allow the chest and collarbone to lift up while still breathing in and pause for a moment. Allow this process to be continuous, a flow of breath moving in, opening you up, creating space in the body, to prepare for the exhalation. Exhale, allow the collar bone, chest and ribcage to relax–the air will release automatically. Next, close off the ribcage and then allow the stomach to draw in slightly, expelling any remaining air in the lungs. The exhalation should be passive, not forcing the breath out at any given point, yet allowing it to flow out of you, and a bit more–emphasized by the drawing in of the abdomen.

To practice deep belly breathing, come to an upright and dignified posture. You may sit comfortable cross-legged or in a chair, whichever works for your spine to feel most erect. Visualize a waterfall flowing in through the crown of your head, and continuing all the way down the spine, grounding you down. Feel the sensation that all is well and the support coming up from the Earth beneath you, supporting you letting go, while expanding and growing tall.

Inhale the breath into the abdomen, filling up from the bottoms of the lung, expanding the ribcage, and all the way up to the collarbones. Feel the shoulders melt down the back. As you exhale, release the head neck and shoulders fully, melting the chest, ribcage and abdominals. Continue this deep belly breathing, from the bottom up, and the top down, releasing, relaxing and restoring your natural radiance.