Did you know that the breath is the single best way to connect your mind, body, and spirit?
Cool or what?
In the ancient tradition of yoga, there is a practice called pranayama.
Prana is a Sanskrit word that means life force.
Yogi Bhajan said “Prana is the most powerful and most creative thing God ever created, because out of prana came life.”
Prana is evidenced every moment by the breath.
Think about it. Whenever there’s a scene in a movie where a person looks possibly dead, what’s checked? Someone leans over the still body to see if she is still breathing.
Life force is inextricably linked to the breath.
The Sanskrit word yama means to control or restrain. It is also the negative form of ayama, to extend or stretch.
Thus, pranayama is the control of life force and the ability to consciously extend and manipulate the breath. And practicing Pranayama is the doing of conscious breathing exercises. (I’ll send you a new one each month. This is September’s.)
If your goal is to lead a conscious life, you have to embrace the breath.
Here is what you can expect when you do these breathing exercises:
1. Feel Radiantly Healthy
Every cell, organ, gland, tissue and muscle in your body needs oxygen. This is why we are all encouraged to do cardio- exercise.
Breathing does this too.
When we regularly oxygenate our systems, we help them run at their potential. Then they can more easily fight off illness and help us reduce and even eliminate stress.
Imagine living with increased vitality! That would mean having an abundant amount of energy.
Doesn't that sound great?
2. Control Your Mind
Your mind essentially regulates what you think, feel, perceive and experience.
Have you ever had a moment when you were really panicked about something? You're heart was beating wildly in your chest, your mind flying around, unable to concentrate because the anxiety and tension had you in its grip?
The fastest way to come out of this is a nice deep breath.
That inhalation brings you back to the moment, helps you ground and center, and physically calms down the body.
Ancient Yogis have taught us that the mind is directly linked to prana (life force). So, if we control the prana, through increased awareness of the breath, we can control our minds.
This is how much power lies with the breath.
3. Make What Is Unconscious Conscious
Breathing with awareness helps us wake up.
Not just our physical bodies by energizing and oxygenating them, not just our minds by waking them from a stupor but it helps us tap into true awareness.
Breathing allows you to come fully into the moment and be 100% present.
The breath is the link between the mind, body and spirit and allows us to access and integrate all with mindfulness, presence and joy.
Become fully aware of your breathing today and enjoy better health, peace of mind, increased clarity and joy.