The Essential Breath

"This pause is a well, a resource that is always available to you.  Know that at any time when you feel tired or confused, hurried or overwhelmed, you an draw from this well for rest and replenishment simply by entering the pause at the end of the exhalation." ~ Donna Farhi

This breath awareness practice comes from Donna Farhi's The Breathing Book, which brilliantly illustrates the whys and hows of how to breathe better to create better health and vitality.

How to do it:

Sit comfortably with your spine supported.  Begin to notice your breath, the inhale and the exhale.  Have the intention to let your breath just be, without trying to change it in any way.

Slowly bring your attention to the exhale.  Allow your awareness to travel the length of the exhale.   Continue for a minute or two, just watching the breath as it flows out of the body.

Notice the end of the exhalation - is there a brief pause before you inhale?  Don't try to make it happen; just rest with awareness of the exhalation as you breathe.  You might find that it begins to lengthen on its own.  Trust that the next breath will come in on its own without you straining for it.

With the pause at the end of the exhale, notice the absence of thought and movement.   The new breath arises out of this pause.   Notice the breath as it flows, rising and falling each moment.

And now, I'd love to hear from you.  Have you tried this practice?  What did you notice about your breath?  Leave a comment in the box below.