Next time you breathe pay close attention through all the senses.

Follow its movement into the nostrils, into the throat and chest and its awakening invigorating effects throughout the entire body.

There is a sublime mystery inherent within the breath. Yoga has understood and imparted the knowledge of breath always. It’s teachers and practitioners have understood and experienced the subtle quality of the breath that awakens when we apply consciousness to it. Everyday breath supports a basic level of health and living. If breath is shallow or caught in the patterns of disturbed mind it will not sustain health or life well.

Yogis have always understood the powerful connection between breath, wellbeing, and mind. Restoring the breath to effective volume and rhythm can work at improving wellbeing at the physical level. But to the yogi breath is a connector between our physical existence and our more subtle levels of being and experience. When breath becomes conscious, we move into the realms of pranayama practice. Once healthy effective physical breath has been established this is the first step toward pranayama. The next step is to develop the capacity to stretch, expand, lengthen, and pause the breath.

This opens us to an entirely different level of healing and potential. We are now working at the level of the pranamaya kosha (energetic sheath) within the subtle body. We are developing the ability to correct, awaken and cultivate vital life force or energy. This level of energy is the power of life within us. When this occurs, the physical body is strengthened and vitalized. All its functions are raised to a different level of potency. We gain an imperviousness to the vicissitudes and changeability of the external and internal environments. Wellbeing is raised to a new level entirely.

As capacity and focus enhances when practicing pranayama, we gain access to the many levels of the mind. The ordinary mind of waking state and the higher mind of our visionary, discerning and intuitive nature. We learn to witness the mind and the subtle essential dimensions of our existence. We may develop the capacity to experience directly and palpably our essential nature which transcends the physical dimension completely. We begin to drink of the elixir of all existence.

Simple pranayama practices have the capacity to transform our understanding and experience of health. The nature and tendency of the mind is revealed as does the ability to heal and awaken it more powerfully. Initially practice must be gentle as the mind sheds its least beneficial tendencies. When the mind is awakened and cleansed it becomes a tool for conscious living and penetrating perspective. We then have access to the power of life itself, the mind will naturally turn toward its own source.

We learn to breathe as all things breathe. Everything oscillates in the space of creation as do all forms that exist within it. Through pranayama practice we more powerfully attune to the natural forces. The forces of nature, the forces of our orbiting, spinning evolving planet. The forces of the universe of which we are a part, the forces of the cosmos which includes all universes and evolutionary stages. Pranayama practice gives the gift of connection between our own individual micro experience and the macro vista of all that is manifest including its origins and source.

Conscious breathing is a window through the limited perspective and experience of our physical material domain. Perhaps the most important aspect or immediate and useful aspect of pranayama practice relevant to the challenging issues of the times we live is its ability to heal and harness strength at every level of body, mind and soul. We need tools to harness the powerful resources we each carry to step courageously through to our greater potentials as a species together.

As a consequence of taking life in the human form we have been given all we need to live potently. Breath is one such tool that can restore, regenerate, and redirect energy in highly beneficial ways. Conscious breath returns us to nature and helps to restore balance, it heals the experience of separation and disempowerment and evokes a unitive understanding and experience. These are all salves for our troubling times.

Next time the mind stalks the horned corridors of its own imaginings watch what happens to the breath. Steer the breath back to depth and steady rhythm and watch what happens to the mind. Make a point of breathing with nature. Feel the connection the breath engenders.

Try harnessing the energy of the mind to breath. Sit comfortably with an erect spine, open chest, and relaxed shoulders. Turn the senses and attention to the breath. Allow the breath rhythm to stabilize and deepen of its own accord. Now place the tongue in the centre of the mouth cavity so that it does not touch the teeth or tissue of the mouth. Breathe while holding the tongue in the centre space within the mouth for some time. Observe the effects? This simple practice gathers the energy of mind inward toward prana. There is a natural marriage or union between the two and when they come together internal doorways open toward the subtle dimensions of our being.

The breath has the power to guide us on many internal journeys where we reclaim the power inherent within us. Living with eyes wide shut generates pain. Living with inner perception wide open is liberating. We can breathe ourselves awake.

Sadhana Pezet

Co-Founder and senior teacher / therapist Shantarasa