Journey into the center of Being

My journey to the center of my being begins with a breath.

This blog is my first SO I am learning as I go along.  A year long weekly assignment is a great way to challenge your own status quo. 
You may have noticed I haven't posted in several weeks.
 I must admit that one of my assignments  has grabbed my attention and I have been  working on it deeply.   Learning to observe myself, see myself, know myself  in this world with my friends and nature and family.  I am discovering that the transitions  between the different postures of our life is so fascinating.  How gracefully do you deal with those changing postures?  It's a wise notion to realize the sooner we feel comfortable with change the easier the life road ahead will be. One thing for certain in this lifetime is change. Nature is a gratuitous example of that as we dive into this beautiful season of autumn.  All the stunning colors of the leaves is a glowing tribute.   So how does one achieve this peaceful transition?  First we must realize we have to get out of our own way and the best way to do that is with the breath.  

Pranayama is the practice of the energy posture. We are all made up of energy just as this amazing mother earth is and everything living and breathing in it. This is the pulse or vibration of life.
Pranayama work can be a fun daily challenge and can lead to a peaceful meditative place. This place has the power to enhance anything from the golf swing to being truly present in a conversation.

Here are three simple pranayamas to start slowly incorporating daily. They can be done anywhere, anytime with great results of being present. So for all you people who love to multi-task, here is a way to do that with ultimate presence.  Simple yet transforming!

First, just notice your breath without changing a thing.  How does it feel in your body? Do you find your belly or chest restricted or does it feel like a wave coming in and out?  Just notice, no need to change or judge it.  Becoming aware is a bonus for yourself.

Next, start to deepen your breath by imagining your body as a water vase and as you take air in through your nose you start to fill up the bottom of the vase, your belly, then side ribs, next the back body and all the way up to your collarbone.  Fill your vase up.  Just as you start to feel full of air imagine the vase spilling out over the top with a slow exhale.  To completely empty your vase, the last bit of air can be gently squeezed out by drawing your navel (belly button) back towards your spine. AND begin again...   slow deep deliberate breathing is calming and rejuvenating at the same time.
When you can comfortable do this for five minutes as you are only thinking of your vase filling up and spilling back out to start back at filling up again, then you are ready for the next step.  This is a great practice while you are driving as a reminder, it truly can be done anywhere and yes it could be considered multi-tasking.

Moving on we will begin working on the retention of the breath. So as you fill your body up with air, instead of spilling it out immediately with an exhale, retain the air inside for 4-5 seconds.    Slowly release your body of ALL the air (belly button to spine) and then immediately start to fill back up again to hold it all in for that pause and release.  When you feel calm and accomplished with this way here comes the change.   Take in your full breath and immediately release it all out and retain an empty vase for 4-5 seconds at the bottom of the breath.   Begin again a slow calming inhale.

Retention of the breath both on the inhale and exhale may give different sensations. Tune in to how it makes you feel.  The last challenge with this breath is to do the retentions on both ends of the breath. Inhale, hold in, exhale, hold out.

Was thinking about giving one more pranayama practice, then I came to my senses and stopped thinking.  Working on these few pranayamas will begin the process of will to train the mind and breath.  At some point a shift will occur and the distracted mind will calm. The training, just like training for a marathon or golf tournament, will evolve into the mind and breath becoming willing partners.  Developing the ability to bring attention to the breath without controlling it becomes effortless after the training. It is that fine detail between intention and control.  The intention allows us to ride along and experience the breath while allowing the fear or control to stop feeling we must make things happen.  Allow yourself to watch the wave of the breath and surrender into the peacefulness.  Learning how to let go becomes beneficial to yourself, myself and others.

Give it a try.  Start with 5 minutes and work up to 15 or more.
Unlimited breath,  24/7 and it's free and always available.  Imagine that!   So, try letting go and take a ride on the breath.    Ramana Maharshi said, "he who thinks he is the doer is also the sufferer."
 
WARNING:
Breath awareness leads to self-awareness!
Can promote feelings of peacefulness.