Breathing, though automatic and absolutely vital to our being is something that we tend to forget about. Thank god, we don't have to think about taking a breath in and a breath out at every moment of the day and night, we would never sleep, we would never do anything else. It is a blessing that our human bodies have been provided for by nerves that function without command. Still as wonderful as that is, today I noticed again, something that I, like my breathing have mot thought about in a while. And that is, that sometimes we do need to remind ourselves to breathe, not for our bodies, but for out mind.
At my new job today in a physical therapy practice I noticed patients, holding their breath and concentrating on everything but their breath. They were trying to so hard to do everything right that they forgot to nurture the aspect of themselves that provides oxygen, energy to preform. I think that in our everyday life we get so wrapped up thinking about trying to do " everything right" - that we forget the essential part of taking a breather, to clear out mind and to focus on ourselves, so that we might perform on our highest level. Nurturing ourselves we actually are not being selfish, we are allowing a more energetic, happy Self. Remember today to take a breath, practice breathing into your belly, into your ribs and into your breast bone. Thats why I love Yoga, because aside from nuturing your body and making it strong and flexible - it focuses on the importance of breath. Inhale the new and fresh present moment and release the used no longer needed!
-Alison
