breath before action

The past few months I’ve been feeling like a lunatic. One minute I’m pulling my hair out kicking and screaming to the gods “WHYY!?” The next I’ve completely withdrawn and could relate to some form of turtle. Weird examples, but you get the picture. Really confusing, really frustrating, really just pinch me because is this all real? BUT, after a few moments of that I-need-a-drink what-the-hell-is-happening panic settles, I realize as a yogi I have no other choice but to ACCEPT, ADAPT, ACCOMMODATE (words from my teacher Anand). 


SO, first thing I do is…you guessed it..BREATHE. And if I could give one tidbit of advice to anyone, it would be to master the simple tool of awareness of breath. Where does the air go in your body when you inhale? Where do you feel it? How deep can you go? What is the feeling upon fully releasing all the air on an exhale? Can you slow it down, the in breath and out breath? Can you take more air in, filling the belly first and then up to the collar bones? Can you let it out slowly, feeling that gentle tug of your low belly in towards your spine as you squeeze every last bit of air out? You only need a minute of this really aware breathing to snap you out of whatever mind-fck you’ve been experiencing; and from there, from that space you can move forward with more intention, clarity, mindfulness and realization that no matter what happens you have control over your reality and therefore your life. I find that whenever I’m in a stressful situation, the key is never to react but to take a moment for yourself; clear some space in your brain by breathing with intention and awareness, and then respond. Less reaction, more response. We need to counter the storm of the world and the storm of our minds with individual acts of loving kindness and thoughtful awareness towards ourselves and our human brothers and sisters; one breath at a time. XO

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