Breath

We meandered through the bookstore aisles, my bright-eyed friend and I, the titles inspiring forks and bends in what was already a beautifully flowing stream of conversation. This was typical of times with Gabe, a soul on fire with whom there was never a shortage of awe-fueled adventure or enlivening discussion. He carried the kind of light that always stuck around for a while after he left, illuminating passageways of perception previously undetected.

4-7-8 breathing is the kegel of mindfulness cultivation. You can do it quickly, any time, anywhere, with great results, and without anyone even noticing (okay, unless you’re in the middle of a conversation and decide to practice deep breathing—you got me there). As an added bonus, its practice isn’t limited to beings of the female variety. In fact, it’s not limited to anyone at all. You don’t have to be female, crunchy, green, hip, square, a yogi, a hippie, or an MD. You just have to breathe.

Pranayama is a powerful Yogic practice that clears physical and emotional blockages from the body, breathing peace into the mind.

“Yoga citta vritti nirodhaha.”

“The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is yoga.” - Patanjali

Recently, I’ve sustained an injury to my back and neck.  Luckily, nothing serious, but it has hindered my daily yoga practice, and frustratingly so.  Just as any avid yogi or yogini would tell you, the time I spend on the mat each day is immensely important to my sanity.  It’s my exercise and my moment of

Breathing. You might say it’s important.

Sure, we know it is life juice – a necessity to think, do, speak, say, move about our ways. But what is the real deal behind breathing? Why do yogis and mindfulness practitioners believe in the power of the breath?