Breath is one of the most precious gifts we have been given, yet it is something we take for granted and thus give it very little attention or thought.
In Ayurveda, which takes its philosophy from many of the Indian philosophical systems, such as the Sankya tradition, and Vedanta, breath is taught as being our connection with the divine. Learn to breath properly and this connection with the divine, your soul or spirit become much stronger. In the world today breath is an important part of our Yoga practice and is often used as a technique to calm our emotions and mind when we are stressed or angry.
In truth breath is the key to life. To become conscious of our breathing is the first step to really waking up (being more aware of what is happening within and around us). It is not some trick or is it something that requires a special training. The first step of the process is simple:
Step 1
We have become unconscious breathers and as a result we hardly breath at all. So the first step is to actually learn how to breath properly. The best way to do this is to make one self comfortable:
- Hold your hands on your belly-button and then start to breath in
- When you breath in, visualise yourself breathing into your belly-button and feel your hands expand out as your tummy expands with your deep in-breath.
- When you breath out feel your tummy empty. Do this slowly and feel your belly-button sink back into your body towards your spin.
Repeat this simply exercise for five minutes.
Initially you might feel a bit high which is a result of all the extra oxygen that you have sent through your body because you have filled your lungs to their full capacity (rather than just breathing through the top layers, which is what we usually do).
Practice this exercise for a few weeks. Do not do it too long at first as it will take your body time to get used to all that extra oxygen. It is a simple exercise you can do anytime and almost anywhere. Take five minutes when sitting in front of your computer, or when you are on the bus. You can also do this while walking.
More on the breath later
