Janet
Yogi
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Apr 1, 2004, 10:55 AM
Post #1 of 10
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Breath: The Essence of Yoga
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I used to have asthma. I used to struggle with the breath, sometimes as if there were a battle I had to win in order to survive. Through yoga, particularly through pranayam, my breath has become my greatest friend. I no longer struggle to breathe, nor do I fear letting go of the exhalation fully, as I have learned to trust that each new inhalation will come, automatically, when I let the exhalation be full and complete. I travelled to India with a bag full of medication and a series of instructions from my Doctor about how to survive in that most polluted of countries, and instead, I found pranayam, and have not used any asthma medication since! Ahhhh, the freedom of it!!!
I've just discovered the most beautiful book celebrating the inner stillness that comes from working with the breath... it's called "Breath: The Essence of Yoga" by Sandra Sabatini. The entire book is a series of small reflections, almost like poetry, which focus on the breath. Here's a sample...
"observe the breath
as if it were under a magnifying glass
be interested -
as if it were something foreign, unknown
be curious
as to what happens
every time you breathe in
and breathe out
so that you can see every step
just watch
this rhythmical dance between
the external world
and the inner world this exchange that takes place all the time".
Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... just make me wanna breathe, and breathe, and breathe...
And another one:
"in yoga practice
you try to reach that centre inside your body
from which it is possible to expand...
in yoga, with listening, with attention
with the clarity that comes from the practice
slowly slowly slowly
you touch the spot from which you can expand
into the ground and into space"
What about you? What does the breath mean do you?
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Seize life with both hands... and plant a great big KISS on her forehead!
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