Have you connected with your breath today?
Yet another day begins with a thousand things in the mind which are to be done. We are caught up in the speed of life, going through our jobs, our cooking, our relationships and what not! Who has the time to take care of the body, to take care of our body’s cravings for some rest? And yet, we complain that we are stressed out and that we have lost energy and feel tired. And then we spend some more energy thinking how life just slipped out of our hands and we even begin to wonder why only our life is so miserable!
All these may have happened to you, or may not have happened to you, but before it harms you, set aside 5 minutes for yourself. Sit comfortably. Close your eyes and just be aware of the breath. Just notice the sensations it produces. Notice how the breathing pattern changes as you become more aware of it. Then open your eyes. How does it feel to listen to your breath? Have you ever noticed how your breathing changes with every action that you perform? If not, observe a person who is working at his desk and a person who is sleeping. Do you see any difference in the way they breathe?
We may not have realized it, but Yogis had realized the importance of breathing a long, long time ago and developed a technique called “Pranayama”. Pranayama is the conscious regulation of breathing in order to expand the life force which is within us. Every thought we think, and every wrong action that we perform has a way of wasting this vital force and that is why we feel drained at times inspite of eating a healthy meal! So, when we sit and become aware of the breath, we are trying to connect ourselves with that force which makes life itself happen. Hatha Yoga says that even our mind moves with the breath. That is why, the most important rule to be followed while practicing Pranayama is to regulate the speed at which we breathe in and out and try to equalize it. When Pranayama is done in this way, it has the capacity to slow down that constant chatter in the mind which makes us so miserable. It slows down that speed which is draining us of all the energy. Stop your breath, and your mind stops! Try to experiment it on yourself, if you don’t believe us. But yes, you should also try not to put thoughts deliberately in your mind while trying to do this!
Hatha Yogis have claimed that it is through the breath that we can remove each and every strand of impurity present in the mind, and then swim through it to reach something beyond the body and mind. That is why many Yoga teachers tell you to meditate on the breath. Your breathing is one connection you have to this vital force Prana that you can easily regulate.
Okay, so you may not have any interest to “swim through the mind to go beyond it”, but you still can perform Pranayama in different ways to gain specific physical benefits. For example, did you know that the Pranayama technique that requires you to breathe through your left nostril has the power to bring down your blood pressure and improve your sleep pattern? Under the guidance of a competent teacher, you can learn specific techniques which will help you cope up with the diseases you may be suffering from or lose weight. So, the next time you go to your Yoga class, don’t neglect your breathing. Better even, if you can spend some time alone just being aware of your in breath and out breath. Rest assured that you will change as a person, for good!
Author Bio:
Shreyas Yoga Retreats is the Best Yoga retreat and boutique resort in Bangalore India, has been best described as a luxury Yoga Boutique Retreat with a soul and provides best Spiritual retreats India, Yoga india, Retreat in India.
Processing your request, Please wait....
