A Breath of Life

Our breath connects us to life. It keeps us alive. It also subconsciously passes us information to our nervous system based on our breathing patterns. Our breathing patterns express our internal energy and our moods. It also reflects how safe we feel in our environment.

Our breathing patterns reveal the range of our emotional safety, of how comfortable we feel in our body regarding our external circumstances. Our life source is an aspect that lies beyond our realm of control. However, we can control the pace of our breathing to create a sense of safety in our bodies.

As long as you have your breath, you have everything

At this point on earth, life is such that globalization and social media have connected everyone to everything around the world. Our focus has been amplified to many different aspects around the world. Technology and the day-to-day media also support multi-tasking as a virtue. This requires humans to expend their energy on many points at once. This kind of dispersed attention also creates anxiety and increases the stress levels in our bodies.

This lifestyle contradicts our biological structure. Our bodies have evolved in a way that creates awareness of solely our immediate surroundings. It is built to respond to our environment. Our touch, olfactory senses, taste, vision, and auditory senses enhance when we are in touch with our present moment. In fact, when we feel anxious, most psychologists recommend body awareness. This activates and heightens our body's senses. This helps us to ground our exploded focus, back into our bodies.

When we are emotionally disconnected from ourselves, our breathing patterns become quicker. This pattern informs our body of an unseen threat. However, when we are emotionally connected and ground back into our bodies, our breathing becomes deeper, and mellow and reflects safety to our sense of being.

Once our focus is back on our body and surroundings, our breathing reaches a comfortable pace, creating a sense of somatic safety in our bodies.

In yoga, there is a well-known breathing practice called Pranayama. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'prana' meaning life, and 'ayama' meaning expansion and control.

In my experience, practising pranayama has helped me regain conscious control over my breathing patterns. This control has subconsciously regulated and brought clarity to my thoughts, emotions and my way of being. It has helped me to gently touch and break through my anxious tendencies.

The strength of our intuition increases with emotional clarity.

Pranayama, just like yoga, will require one to meet uncomfortable parts of their selves. However, deepening and expanding your breaths in micro bits can also help you move through your suppressed beliefs and conditioning.

There are many breathing practices, including Pranayama, available online. These videos can provide a headstart for your breathing practice journey. In time, you'll learn to play with and mould these practices as per your creative requirements.