I stumbled across something this week that really shocked me.
A very popular media figure revealed that they had been a spiritual teacher for almost a decade before they understood anything about the breath.
In my world, that’s like saying:
“I’ve been driving on super-highways since the 90s, and only last week did I understand that difference between the brakes and the gas pedal.”
That’s because the breath is definitely our most powerful tool for grounding and for reclaiming our focus.
It’s central to almost every spiritual and meditative practice.
It’s something I share in every class and every workshop.
And yet at the same time, it sometimes feels awkward to teach people something that they’ve been doing since the very moment they were born.
And, to state the obvious:
Once you stop breathing, things quickly become problematic.
Navy Seals, by the way, apparently have to be able to hold their breath underwater for a minimum of two minutes and without blowing bubbles.
(Note: That’s not the reference in the subject line, though; that’s just a fun fact. Please keep reading.)
For some of you, this may be familiar information; for others, it might be revolutionary.
How to Breathe Properly
To learn how to breathe properly (which means from the diaphragm), you might first put one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly.
Try to breathe in and out through your nose.
Never force anything, but you’ll notice the breath naturally stretches and slows when you observe it.
As you inhale, the lungs expand, and it seems as if the belly inflates (it doesn’t technically, the diaphragm is contracting and moving downward).
Observe how the hand on the belly floats with the expansion.
When you exhale, the process is reversed. The belly falls as the lungs empty.
Most of us are habitually shallow, top-of-chest breathers, so even just a few rounds of full, diaphragmatic breath can produce a sense of serenity, a flash of insight, or even the feeling of a world-class high.
If you want to take things further––and this is where your Navy Seal possibilities kick in––you can practice…
BOX BREATHING
Inhale for four beats…
Hold that inhale for four beats…
Exhale for four beats…
Stay empty for four beats…
And repeat.
Even just a few rounds of it might GROUND YOU, clear your thoughts and make for better decisions.
As I research more and more for my new offering this spring, I’m heartened by the fact that not only Navy Seals, but doctors, nurses, and police officers and others in high-stress jobs are also often trained in Box Breath.
I’m encouraged that the mind / body / spirit connection is more acknowledged than ever before.
(Note: not acknowledging the mind / body / spirit connection is similar to not acknowledging gravity; when you drop an apple, whether you acknowledge gravity or not, the apple still falls to the ground.)
Finally, just as the plot twist of many a romantic comedy is that the one who’s right for you has been there all along, quietly waiting for you to notice them…
So, too, might be the most powerful tool for grounding and centering and reframing your life: your breath.
Here’s to Breathing In…
and Breathing Out….
Namaste for Now,
