The Breath of Life

Suggested by Jasmuheen, the breathetarian in her book, Resonance.

Apart from restoring health and vitality and increasing longevity, the main benefit of experiencing the 'breath of life' (the energy that sustains us) is that, due to its very pure and perfect nature, we are given a range of experiences from deep inner peace, total complete relaxation and better sleep, to the overwhelming feelings of joy and bliss of nirvana or samadhi.

This energy is completely subtle and silent in its power as it goes about creating and sustaining life.

A direct way to contact this energy and 'feel' its vibration and presence in our being, is with our breath.

The first step is to keep our breathing connected so each inhale flows naturally into each exhale with no pause and each exhale flows into each inhale with no pause. The Buddhists call this 'breath chasing'. The rebirthers call it rhythmical or connected breathing. I call it 'greeting dad of mom at the door,' since we greet each inhale and each exhale right away 'at the door' with no pause or hesitation.

The second step is to breathe finely. Short coarse breathing is what the body does when we are experiencing anger, fear or frustration. Fine breathing is like a leaf or a feather dancing in the wind. It is subtle, flowing. The force that pervades all life is subtle, yet powerful, and must be charmed (loved), not forced.

When releasing emotions from the body through breath techniques (such as rebirthing and transformational breathing), coarse breathing is a very successful tool.

To contact the energy that sustains us we need to tune ourselves to its rhythm as it moves throughout our body.

It is also recommended to breathe through the nostrils. Also try breathing through one nostril at a time (deep, fine and connectedly) as this will 'switch' on the energy flows quickly through both sides of the body.

The third step in this technique is to breathe deep or long. Taking fewer breaths per minute cools and calms our bodies and allows the body to relax.

Rhythmical, connected, fine breaths which are long, slow and deep allow us to connect to and experience, the vibrational aspect of the energy that drives the breath. This energy that drives our breath is our divine essence. Connecting with this essence allows us to experience and enjoy the characteristics of its nature -love, joy, bliss - etc.

The more deeply and slowly we breathe, the more oxygen we ingest and also the more prana -both have beneficial affects on our health. Prana is the universal life force energy and revitalizes, heals and transforms cellular structure and promotes longevity.

The technique of breathing deeply, finely and connected is like the technique of freestyle or breaststroke we would use to swim to the current in a river. There comes a point where we feel as though we are' being breathed' and no effort or technique is required once the rhythm has been tapped into - like the effortlessness we experience when we reach the current in a river and allow it to carry us downstream.

Enjoy this breath practice as a way to start or end your day, or while you are driving or showering. With regular practice it becomes a powerful tool in moments when you need something to reduce stress or agitation. It will be ready and available to give you a sense of deep peace within moments.

When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world." - African Proverb