Breath by Breath

A Journey of A Thousand Miles
Starts with a Single Breath

The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships."

"When we are attentive to our actions we are not prisoners to our habits."

"Anyone can breathe. Therefore anyone can do Yoga."
~ T.K.V. Desikachar, a father of Western yoga

Much of what we do is unconscious. Driving, for example. How often have you driven somewhere and suddenly realize you have arrived and parked the car without being aware of the journey? To take another example, when you take a shower or brush your teeth, do you notice what you’re doing? Or do you simply act out of habit?

Each moment, our brains are creating our reality. This sounds kind of woo-woo, but it’s borne out by scientific research. Every time we move, breathe, eat, or act in a particular way, those neural connections in the brain and nervous system that support that particular action are strengthened. So, many of us move through much of our lives on automatic pilot – not thinking much about how or why we’re performing certain actions. For the most part, this can be a good thing. We learn how to drive, and can safely get from A to B without using a lot of energy or brainpower.

Where this automatic pilot may be limiting us, however, is when we want to change course. We may feel stuck in a job or a relationship that doesn’t feel good or right, or we may be suffering persistent pain or anxiety or depression. But, we haven’t got the practice we need to be able to “unstick” ourselves. Our brains are wired in a certain way, and it takes a lot of energy to rewire them.

What to do? Where do you start when you know you need a change, but you’re not sure how to get there? Yoga offers tremendous possibility for changing course. There are three simple keys to a yoga practice – breath, movement and awareness. The ancient yogis said that breath carries prana, or “life force energy.” The Chinese call this energy “chi” and the Japanese call it “ki.” Yoga is designed to liberate our energies, enabling us to change course more easily.

As a yoga teacher and therapist, it’s my job to observe the person in front of me – to notice how she or he is moving and breathing. Small signs offer big clues. For example, if my client is anxious, how she is breathing can offer a wealth of information. Is her breath shallow and fast? Does she breathe only into the upper chest? If my client is depressed, what shape does he hold his body in? Is his chest sunken and are his eyes downcast? Does he have self-critical thoughts?

We get good at what we practise. The brain wires all of our thoughts, feelings, sensations and actions into the nervous system. The mind believes the body. The body believes the mind. To change course, we may first need to deeply understand this truth, not just in our heads, but in our bodies as well.

My anxious client – she’s breathing shallowly and rapidly. This is the breath our bodies adopt when we are running from a sabre-toothed tiger – or when we’re standing up giving a speech to a group of strangers. We’re in “fight or flight.” We’ve engaged the emotional centre of the brain. We’re scared and anxious.

How to change this? Remember, the mind believes the body. The breath is the link between mind and body. Change the breath, and you change the mind. Take a deep breath in. Let it out slowly. When you breathe in, you engage the sympathetic nervous system – the “fight or flight” response. When you breathe out, you disengage the “fight or flight,” and engage the parasympathetic nervous system – the “rest, digest and heal” response. Simply by lengthening the exhale calmly, we begin to convince the mind that all is well, and we are safe.

What about my depressed client? He with the sunken chest, downcast eyes, and morbid thoughts? Well, the mind believes the body. And the body believes the mind. Take a deep breath in, open your arms, and lift your eyes. Breathe calmly and smoothly. Generate energy with breath and movement. Maintain a calm, relaxed, focused awareness. Notice self-limiting thoughts. Challenge them.

These simple practices can slowly begin to change the brain and nervous system and give you the skills you need to move away from a habitual practice of whatever is keeping you stuck on the same course. Even the most challenging realities, such as emotional or physical pain, can be changed. It takes practice and perseverance to change your reality, and noticing your journey breath by breath. It is a subtle yet immensely powerful transformative practice, and if you persevere, it will take you where you want to go.*

May your journey this year bring you greater health and happiness.

Namaste,
Donna xo

*Please discuss any health concerns with your trusted health care practitioner. Therapeutic yoga assists in fostering health and well-being, but does not diagnose.

And now, I’d love to hear from you. Is there a course or path that feels right for you that you'd like to explore? How have you met the challenges you've faced? Leave a comment in the box below!