Inside Yoga 148 (9/11/2015)
Whatever you are doing when practising yoga, whether it is standing or sitting, a simple or difficult yoga posture, or perhaps you are in seated meditation, have a look at the space between each breath. Just watch for the pause between each breath. What does it feel like?
It might be a fleeting moment or an extended second, but it is a moment when everything stops. It is at this point that we can really feel the stillness and silence of own being.
Try it out right now – you don’t need to be on a yoga mat or meditation cushion to breathe. Before you read the next sentence watch your breathing as you breathe in, and keep watching as you reach the point when your lungs are full, and before breathing out simply watch and feel that moment. Then do the same when you exhale and before you in inhale.
This is an important moment in this practice because it sharpens our concentration and helps us feel more connected with our body and breathing, and as a result of this, we feel more aware of what we are doing. And we feel better, more relaxed (less stressed or tense).
By watching out for the space between our breaths, we have to concentrate on our whole breath, otherwise we will miss it – it is a simple technique which produces several benefits.
It improves our concentration and lung capacity, while at the same time it can help us to breathe more effectively and comfortably. Have you noticed when we start to watch our breathing, the next breath is often a deep inhalation followed by a relaxing exhalation, as if the body has said, “oh I am glad you decided to watch because I am suffocating with bad breathing and now need to take a deep breath”.
What I am pointing out is that most of the time we breathe badly, with repeated shallow breathing and at times, suspension of breath (like short holds of the breath), and as a result we starve our body of the amount of air it needs.
Strange behaviour really, but we keep doing this. So by training ourselves to pay attention our breathing will improve and by practising yoga asanas (postures) we develop not only greater lung capacity but an improved awareness of our breath, body and our mind.
When practising, whether it is asanas or meditation, remember to watch the breathing and if possible, watch the gap between each breath.
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