One Breath at a Time…….

In yoga we are always talking about following the breath and cue our students to move on the breath.  In fact, the masters of yoga say that yoga is about the breath and NOT about the movement or the asanas as they are called.  

When we begin a new student, the first pose that is generally taught is “tadasana” or mountain pose.  It is a simple standing posture where the feet are hip width apart and parallel.  The spine is elongated and the chin is level.  Once the body is positioned we just breath……inhale, exhale over and over.    Then we may put the student into a wide legged stance such as “triangle”.  This is a standing full body stretch.  It stretches the ham strings, the shoulders, it takes strength in the obliques……on and on.  Once the student is in position, again, can we just breath…..inhale and exhale, over and over………and so it goes one pose at a time.

Now the student decides to take a class with more movement or “flow”.  We call these classes vinayasa classes as they link one pose to the next.   New poses will be introduced here, more challenging poses will be taught here…….but the focus is the same.  Can you continue to breath evenly……inhale, exhale, over and over as the body moves fluidly through the asanas?

The complexity of yoga continues to any level the student wants.  But always the focus is the same.  Can we keep our mind calm?  Can we stay connected with our breath…….one inhale and exhale at a time.  In fact the more difficult the posture, the more deeply we need to move into our breath to find the focus, stamina and strength to work within the posture.

And so it is the same with life.  When things are going well, easy breezy, we can usually stay connected with our breath and just breath easily.  Something a bit challenging comes up…….now can we stay connected with our breath and just focus on the present moment and what needs to be done in that moment.  And when a major challenge in life comes along??  Can we remember to breathe?  Inhale and exhale, over and over as the complexities of the moment work themselves out?

Easier said then done perhaps but a very helpful focus.

One breath at a time.  Inhale, exhale.  No matter what posture you are in.  No matter what position you are in.  Inhale, exhale.  The momentum of life continues always.  Our breath keeps us connected and grounded.  It helps to keep us calm and able to think.  Inhale, exhale………one breath at at time.