With our busy, frenetic world everyone wants to know how they can find some calm. The ding of our smart phones, the expectation that we are always on call, the draw of social media catching us in this none stop buzz. Our monkey minds jumping from one thought to the next.
Yoga is an ancient practice that puts us in touch with something deeper. A consistent practice will show us the way to inner calm. Within us lies an oasis of peace. We just have to delve deep enough in to find it.
Breath is the best tool to help us on this journey. It is a link between the conscious and the unconscious mind. It is an anchor to the present moment. Breath is the key if you are looking to reduce the stress and tension that get in the way of feeling at ease.
So how to get in touch with the breath. If you have ever tried to observe your breath you are probably well aware of how challenging it is to stay connected to it. Our thoughts distract us. We hear the phone ring, and jump up. We hear a car drive by, and start thinking about where we need to go next. We feel an itch on our nose, and move to scratch it.
Our brains are in the habit of responding to every stimuli and balk at the task of being steady with one focus. Our brains are so used to jumping around from one thing to the next. To sit and observe breath sounds so simple, but when you try, you see the challenge of being with it.
Our brains are in the habit of responding to every stimuli and balk at the task of being steady with one focus. Our brains are so used to jumping around from one thing to the next. To sit and observe breath sounds so simple, but when you try, you see the challenge of being with it.
I think building breath awareness is like any other skill you might want to develop: it takes practice. If you wanted to learn to ride a skateboard you would need to invest time in getting on the skateboard. You would need to accept a few falls as an inevitable part of the learning process. You would need to accept that at first it would not be easy.
We have come to believe that everything we desire should be quick and come easy. We are used to clicking and having instant gratification. Almost all knowledge is at the tip of our fingers. We don’t have to pause and wait. We have access to anything we want to know.
Wisdom is different. It is slow. It grows organically. You can’t buy it. You can’t force it. It is a return that comes with consistent investment of time and dedication. There is no quick road.
If you really want to find that place of calm within you, you must commit to a consistent practice. You are bound to enjoy that feeling of peace when you access that place of eternal bliss inside you. Are you willing to go that deep inside?
If you are serious about going on this journey, these are my suggestions:
1
Get up 20 minutes earlier than you do right now. Don’t make excuses why you can’t. Either you want this or you don’t.
2
Design a simple wake up ritual that includes at least 5-10 minutes of breath awareness. You can do this lying down on the floor, resting upright against a wall, or sitting comfortably in a meditative posture.
3
Simple watch the breath coming in and going out. Don’t try to make it something special or control it in any way. Just observe it. Notice if it is on its way in, or on its way out. Notice where you feel the breath.
4
Be sure you are comfortable. If you aren’t at ease in your body, you won’t be able to stay with the breath. Find a way to support yourself that won’t cause you pain or strain. If you have to, start by laying down.
5
Expect to see things about yourself that otherwise you might try to avoid seeing. You will discover you have all kinds of negative thinking patterns. You will find emotions that you have shoved down inside. Recognizing the truth of where we are is part of this process.
6
Trust the journey. It can feel daunting. I can guarantee you that if you continue on the journey all those challenges and obstacles will be surpassed. But you must face them.
7
It takes courage. You must know that this isn’t easy. It is for this reason most people avoid the journey all together. It is much easier to stay in the buzz of the outside world.
8
Be reassured. The fruits of the practice are sweet. You won’t regret taking this journey in. Although it isn’t easy it is by far the most rewarding task you can undertake. You will find out that you have so much light inside, it won’t take long for you to see and follow that as a guide.
