Table of Contents
Breathing is natural for all of us, although most of us only ever breathe subconsciously, failing to realise the benefits of breathing well. So many of us do not connect with our breath on a more conscious level.
If we had the knowledge and ability to raise our awareness and connect with our breathing patterns, we would feel more connected with our physical body and mind. For example, a shallow breath may suggest that we are not entirely comfortable in our body or have peace of mind.
Many people are unaware that the breath is a powerful tool, which can give us a sense of presence and a deeper awareness of how we feel. It helps us to gain a feeling of ease and makes us more acutely attuned to our bodies.
Life moves at such a rapid pace and most people never set aside time to go to a place of silence and consciously consider their breath. This forces people to confront their true selves and their reality. For some, this can be quite an emotional and painful experience. However, once this process of reflection has begun, they can then benefit their life forever.
Before embarking upon any physical activity, breathwork or meditative practice, you should start with a short breath awareness exercise to assess what is happening at that moment in time.
By sitting in stillness and focusing on our breath, we become more attuned to how our body is feeling. This should be done with a non-judgemental, neutral mindset rather than a place of judgement or criticism.
Connecting to our breath can give us a deeper understanding of our body, and it helps us shift our focus from what our body physically looks like to how it feels and what it can do. This mindset shift encourages us to feed the body with nourishing foods, lets us rest when we need to instead of pushing on regardless.
It also provides us with a chance to reflect on wisdom that is inherent and already exists within our bodies.
“Connecting with our Breath” Meditation
This meditation practice helps us to be with the breath. It is explorative and with no goal, and it aims to bring us and observe a precious part of ourselves.
When we sit and breathe, we need to be open to all discoveries and ready to accept them, whatever they are.
The observation must be done without criticisms, judgements, or analysis. Changes and ameliorations come with connection, integration and adoption.
- Find a comfortable position.
- Just watch the breathing like you never noticed it before.
- Just observe without analysing, no editing, no changing.
The location of the breath:
- Let’s observe the place and the origin of our breath.
- Ask yourself: Where do I feel my breath? Where in the body?
- Where does the movement of the breath begin?
- In the belly, with the pelvic floor, in the chest, around the shoulders, along the spine, in the nose, with any other part of the body or perhaps with all body.
- Pause.
The length of the breath:
- Now let’s look at the length of the breath.
- Is it a noticeable difference between the length of the inhale and exhale?
- Or are they equal?
- Pause.
The quality of the breath:
- What does your breathing feel like?
- Is it deep or shallow? Smooth or jerky and agitated? Rhythmic or mechanic?
- Is it even or uneven? Silent and subtle or noisy and loud?
- Is it rough and hard to do, or does the breath flow effortlessly in your body without any pauses?
Being with the breath
- When the observation seems more evident, and your breath appears to you, be with it without disturbing it.
- Learn to rest with your breathing as it is here and now without interfering or trying to change it.
- Your mind might want to. Instead, be with your natural breath.