Breathe of Life
Your breath is your anchor….it is the very first thing we do when we are born into this earth realm, the life force that fuels us.
You can survive without food for weeks, if you have water. You will live for a few days without water, but without breath you’ll be gone within minutes. That’s how vital each breath is! The natural rhythm of inhalation and exhalation promotes rhythmic micro movement in the body which helps release tension, promotes blood circulation, stimulates the flow of spinal fluid (an important factor in the communication between body and brain) and makes all sorts of body movements more efficient.
Breathing is such a natural habit of ours that we forget to be intentional with our breath. Taking time to deeply inhale and to exhale with intention of releasing all that no longer serves you opens your body to allow energy to flow in ways which we are not aware of blocking with our shallow breathing. When we become intentional with our breath, we are able to unlock deep wounds, purge suppressed emotions, become aware of our body, where we hold tension, the blockages in our chakras as well as heal our body through something as simple as our breath. When thinking of our well-being, we don’t often think of how we breathe, we think of our physical body, our mind, our environment but never our breath, and the importance of its role on our body, mind, and overall health.
Breath- work has many benefits for the mind, body and spirit which include lowing blood pressure, slowing down the heart, bringing a sense of calm and clarity. It helps with anxiety, depression and mental illness as breathwork can help you reach a deeper state of mind; helping calm and focus the mind, helping with ADHD. Breath-work can also be spiritual, when you practice; you move beyond your body and mind, and connect with your true self. It helps remove the ego so you are able to connect with the universe bringing enlightenment and making it easier to be more authentic by connecting you to your higher self.
Yoga is a wonderful way, especially Kundalini yoga, to connect to your breathe more while moving the energy through movement. There are many practices you can incorporate into your daily life for healthier state of mind, body and soul such as diaphragmatic breathing, alternate nostril breathing, deep breathing, and many more.
Learn to be more intentional with your breathing, notice how it moves through you, what sensations do you feel with each inhale and how relaxed does your body get after every exhale. As you inhale you welcome life into your blood, and oxygen to your brain and as you exhale you release toxins and unnecessary energy, treat your breathe as the elixir of life for it truly brings life to your body, Say affirmations as you breathe in and out, and watch your life and body transform.
"Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body."
– Thich Nhat Hanh
