Trust Breath

Did you know that the breath registers emotions and responses to events before the brain recognizes the shift? The interrelatedness of our body continues to fascinate me; the underpinning of all this is our breath.

For the past couple months, the word that guides my day is trust. In the morning this will be followed by a phrase or an invitation, such as trust the flow of life, trust your heart, trust the nudges.  A few days ago I woke to the simple phrase ‘trust breath’. The simplicity rather startled me and I embraced it, making it the theme for my teaching that week. During my run/walk that morning, delving into the ‘trust breath’ invitation, I observed the breath and found a pattern that could sustain me long after the energy of thought suggested it was time to move from run to walk. Throughout the day, I returned again and again to the signals coming from my breath. I continue this practice and it informs. While it may seem intuitive, ‘trust breath’ invites a regular pause that asks ‘what is my breathing suggesting in this moment?’  Sometimes the response is obvious, often subtle, and more likely uncertain. Learning the language of breath, and the language of our body takes time, patience, and practice. 

So, I ask you, how’s your breath? What might it be suggesting? Can you listen? 

Here are a couple practices to consider: 

1. Close your eyes and focus on the breath moving in and out of your nostrils. Is the right or left nostril receiving and releasing most of the air?

• Our breathing pattern alternates from one nostril being dominate to the other about every 90 minutes. This is part of the natural balancing mechanism within the nervous system.
• Breathing in and out the left nostril will help calm; conversely, breathing in and out the right nostril is more activating, increasing metabolism.
• For balance, alternate breath into right, exhale left, inhale left, exhale right, and continue for several breaths. This is called alternate nostril breathing and can restore balance and invite perspective quickly; often under five minutes.
  2. We typically engage in but a fraction, about 20%, of our lung capacity with each breath cycle. Deepening the breath supports calming, helps reduce stress and anxiety, improves focus, supports sleep, and more.
• The diaphragm moves down on the inhale, up on the exhale, much like an accordion (a reminder of 2nd grade lessons). Intentionally engaging the diaphragm, deep breathing can be practiced.
• Notice what happens when the diaphragm movement is exaggerated; you can place your hand below the sternum to feel this movement. You can also feel this as the belly expands and contracts with the breath. This is called diaphragmatic or belly breathing.

In yogic understanding, breath is much more than oxygen coming in and carbon dioxide going out. Breath is the life force that allows our existence, and Prana is the life force of connecting. Breath connects the energy of thought with that of body sensation. Breath connects what is within with the recognition that we are not separate. Breath invites us to recognize the interconnectedness of our being – as expansive as you can imagine and more. 

So, give yourself the power of breath on this day when love is celebrated. Practice self-love and begin with the breath. Right now. Just breathe. Trust breath.