Breath Life Into Me

Our breath. The life giving force which we carry with us throughout our journey. From dusk until dawn it keeps us company. Following us through life and ensuring the proper function of our bodies.

Post Industrial Revolution, our relationship with the breath and breathing changed. Smog and other environmental pollutants became part of daily living. Living in close quarters to one another created a new kind of living situation - diseases were easily transmitted, waste disposal became an issue which all compounded into rising stress levels. A hard life slowly led us to breath in our upper chest rather than deep into our stomachs. This short shallow breathing decreases the amount of oxygen our bodies and brain receives leading to a number of long and short term health issues.

So what do we do? Amidst the many different breathing practices available, Pranayama is a simple yet very effective practice that you may want to incorporate into your practice routine.

Developed in Ancient India, Pranayama is all about the practice of breath control. Prana which loosely translates to "life force" consists of varied breathing practices which ultimately helps us focus on unhealthy or less skillful breathing practices leading to improved concentration and healthier breathing.

If you are interested in trying Pranayama, I have shared a guided session below. The instructions start at time stamp 9.24 / 19:33.

Remember:

1. Never force your breathing.

2. Be patient and consistent with your practice

3. If you have any pre existing health conditions or are pregnant, please make sure you speak with a health practitioner before you start.

#pranayama#satuppada#mindfulness#mindful