…is your breath. And it’s the easiest thing to make your daily practice because you don’t necessarily need to set aside extra time or money for it.
Taking full breaths stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system, which supports relaxation and digestion, and it also connects you to the important tools and wisdom you already have. Without the breath, the access point feels bolted shut.
With the breath, we gain a broader perspective, we have a better chance at remembering the impermanence of things, we are better equipped to remember who we are, and we can access the depth and courage we need to live life better.
Without it, we can get lost in despair or anger, enroll others in our drama, isolate and disparage ourselves and others, or run people over, hide, or come out sideways (passive aggressive).
With conscious breath, we gain greater command over our mental and emotional bodies, and we can begin to discern and act accordingly. Without it, we rely on sheer will to win the internal tug-of-war.
Habitualizing checking in with your breath throughout the day can massively and positively impact quality of life.
If you are aware that you forget to breathe during the day, start here:
Upon waking up, and before getting out of bed, lie on your back, place one hand on your solar plexus and breathe into it slowly and deeply, expanding your belly. At the top of your inhale, exhale out slowly and completely, bringing the navel center down towards your spine. Make your breath long and deep, focusing your attention on your breath and nothing else. You might want to count, inhaling for 4 to 8 counts, then exhaling for 4 to 8 counts, making your inhale and exhale equal counts. Continue this for 5 minutes.
You might add a gratitude and say “thank you for my life,” before going about your day. 😇
Do this again at the end of the day upon laying down for bed; a better alternative to turning on social media…
For bonus points, practice conscious breathing while you are cooking, folding laundry, or when you feel uncomfortable in your body (inhale love into that space, exhale out the pain), and so on. There are many opportunities to bring breath into your day.
Savitree Kaur 