"The way we breathe... is often a revealing metaphor for our willingness or ability to experience what is actually going on inside ourselves and to move freely through and within our lives and ourselves." A quote from my current text book "Free Your Breath, Free Your Life" by Dennis Lewis. How true is this?
When I get upset and I want to keep those emotions from coming to the surface, my breath is really shallow. When I actually want to get through my feeling so that I can calm down and relax, I reach my breath way, deep down into my belly. After exhaling completely a few times, I always feel better. While I open up the spaces in my abdomen and lungs, I break the tight bonds that hold in my emotions. This allows the moment to pass (even if it means that a big swell of emotions come up first), and better, healthier emotions can now take their place.
The truth of the matter is that we are all connected, whether people want to admit it or not. This "space" that we think keeps us apart from each other is a facade. It is, in fact, what connects us. If you don't believe me, blow in someone's face sometime and see if they can feel it. Then try to tell me it's not there, bridging us to each other. Although we can't see it, the air between us is what fills us. It flows from me to you, to the animals and plants. It doesn't discriminate. It fills our lungs, our blood, our tissues; it makes us able to live. To cut that off disconnects us from everything. If you do it too much, you die. Plain and simple.
To take it one step further, air is comprised of energy. The molecules in it are constantly active, bumping into each other moving fluidly from one place to another. That energy keeps us alive. When you blow on something, or fan something, etc... you are manipulating that energy. I believe that is what is happening when you hear someone talk about being an energy worker. They are able to tap into the movement of molecules in a given space or thing. And when someone is really good at it and in touch with their breath, this is when amazing things happen. These amazing things have different names in different traditions, especially the religious. Call it what you will: magic, miracles, energy work, prayer... each of these are made up of someone focusing their energy, giving it intention, and sending it out into the universe for a specific cause. Some believe that it goes through a higher power, others don't. The philosophy of it can be argued for eternity. To me, it's a difference of terminology. The point is, it is a very real thing, and it has wonderful consequences. But you have to take the first step and learn to be comfortable with yourself, and your own breath, before you can do anything else.
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The first thing I thought of when I saw this post was the Anna Nalick song "Breathe".... from the "Bomb in the body" epsiode of Grey's Anatomy that really had everyone holding their breath.
ReplyDeleteShallow breath. I experience this a lot in the form of anxiety attacks. I'm not sure it's me not WANTING my emotions to come to the surface, but it almost feels more like they are all coming at one time and it's too much to handle. Do you think that it can be both??
When I went to see Thich Nhat Hanh they would periodically ring a bell. You were supposed to stop what you were doing and take 3 breaths. This brought you back to the present which is where you live if you are focused on the breath. It was very cool for 600 people to just stop and breathe.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I do think it could very easily be both. Maybe, without realizing it in the past, you have kept certain emotions in. Those have built up until you just don't know what to do with them. I think you need to find a way to let your emotions out 1 layer at a time. This way, instead of having a BURST of emotion that is too hard to handle, maybe you can tackle it a few at a time. I also think you have started that with your writing. To give words to what you're feeling is the beginning of letting them out of your body. To give breath to it and actually SAY the words might help you release those emotions. Be prepared for a few good cries though. Don't always look at it as bad to feel your emotions and cry. Try to acknowledge them. You're feeling them for a reason. But try to let go of them once you feel them.
ReplyDeleteDavid- That is so cool! I would love to have experienced that!
I love this post! Greg and I do breathing exercises together to try to make our bodies adapt a better breath pattern in general. Becoming or being aware of your breath is amazing!
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