|  Breath
of Life
We can survive for many days without
food and a few days without water, but without breath we can exist
for only a few minutes. From the moment we are born, breathing supports
all our most basic physiological needs, yet we rarely question this
amazing process. The interrelationship between the breath and the
state of our health, and even certain states of the mind has been
explored for centuries in the medical and meditative practices of
the East. These ancient cultures held a deep appreciation for the
healing potential of the breath, utilizing it as a means of building
health and vitality, attaining inner peace and enhancing spiritual
attunement.
Today in the west we are seeing a growing acceptance in the ancient
conception that man is a trinity of body, mind and spirit. Eastern
philosophies and sciences are quickly gaining mainstream momentum
as we begin to explore the flow of subtle energy (“prana”
in India or “chi” in China) and its intricate relationship
to health and consciousness. Yoga, for example, is becoming so influential
that its elements can be found, to some degree, in most alternative
and complimentary therapies. Breathwork is one such modality. Recognizing
that our breath is a primary source of subtle energy, Breathwork
facilitators seek to utilize its full potential as a tool for personal
growth. Rather than adding something new, or promoting the mastery
of particular breath techniques, our approach has to do with returning
to the simplicity of natural breathing by identifying and dismantling
poor breathing habits.
When people begin to examine the way they breathe, most agree they
experience some degree of difficulty or distortion. Perhaps they
are unable to breathe fully, or notice that their breath is labored
or erratic. Or perhaps they become aware of a link between the quality
of their breathing and the state of their health. Breathwork practitioners
have discovered these obstructions as highly sophisticated breathing
habits that are deeply rooted in the body/mind and have physical
and psychological components at their core. In other words, the
quality of our breathing literally reflects the quality of our lives!
In breathwork the intention is to identify and dismantle these breathing
habits through awareness and conscious breathing. Once these habits
are dismantled, we not only unleash our vital life force energies,
but also open a healing pathway that unites the body and the mind.
We are then able to improve our health, balance our emotions, and
cultivate the energy needed for personal growth and spiritual development
Because human beings reflect a broad range of physical, mental and
spiritual capacities there is no single model of breathwork that
will serve everyone’s needs. For this reason, some approaches
focus primarily on building health and vitality while others place
more emphasis on emotional healing or spiritual attunement. A quote
from Edgar Cayce reading #2475-1 explains this so beautifully and
succinctly “breath is power in itself.” In unleashing
the untapped power of the breath we must also accept the responsibility
of proper preparation and honest self-examination. When approached
with these attributes Breathwork has great potential as a therapeutic
practice and can have astonishing effects on consciousness as well
as physical health and well being.
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