Re-spiration
Athletes, Yogis, and Martial artists have used the power of breath for centuries to boost their performance, stamina, and focus. Today, elite performers such as Olympic teams, Navy Seals, and Silicon Valley executives use conscious breathing practices to step up their game.
Sacred practices used to be passed down from master to disciple only. Now, you can ‘qualify’ online. We have access to a lot of information, and it takes more and more discernment to choose what to invest our energy into with maximum benefit.
So, where to start? The most immediate tool to sharpen discernment and create coherence is conscious breathing. Even simply focusing on the breath immediately gets us back to presence.
Respiration means more than providing oxygen for our body; it means re-connection to Spirit. Breath equals vital life force; it animates our body/mind system. The first breath we take at birth and our last exhale is at death. Life is a dance between the opposites, arising in awareness… that which transcends polarities.
In the womb, our umbilical cord feeds us with nutrients and oxygen. Once we see the light of day, if uncut, it would continue for a few hours until we gently transition to nose breathing. That, however, was not the case for most of us. As soon as we were born through the tight birth canal, into bright light, un-muffled sounds, and firm touch, the umbilical cord was cut. Our supply of nutrition ended abruptly, and we began to suffocate. Often, the doctors hung us upside down and smacked us on the bottom… and this is how we took our first breath! …
Most of us took our first breath in survival mode. It entered our lungs much harsher than if we had transitioned naturally to lung breathing. We didn’t have a chance to open up slowly and gradually.
Many drew from this experience subconscious conclusions, like: ”Deep breath equals pain’’ or ”Life is painful” ”If I want to survive, I have to put up with pain.’’
We learned various ways to breathe sparingly and shallowly, barely surviving. We have closed off to living life fully. Using our full capacity appeared too intense and painful.
Most people nowadays use about 30-40% of their lung capacity. Our breath is directly related to the vital life force. Breathing is also our primary way of detoxing. So, we find ourselves in a dilemma where science dictates a different truth than our subconscious.
—
In Breathwork, we can practice breathing more fully in a safe, supportive environment. We can gradually increase our capacity to handle stress, bridge the polarities within ourselves, and let go of limiting habits. We get out of our own way and reconnect to what life offers.
By clearing conditioned patterns and habits layer by layer, we become more authentic and selfless in the same instance. When energy flows freely and unrestricted through the body, we begin to reconnect to all aspects of ourselves. We remember how good it feels to be fully alive.
