Lately, the body and mind’s need for rest has been a recurring theme for me! If you’ve been in class, you’ve heard me talk about the importance of connecting with your breath of life. It’s an on-going assignment! I’d like to offer three gentle reminders for developing a personal practice focused on breath work.- As you exhale, focus on giving the ribcage permission to rest. Remembering that the ribcage releases towards the pelvis on your exhales. Inhale on the word “Let,” exhale on the word, “Go.”
- After observing your breath for a few cycles, see if you can create evenness between the exhales & inhales. For example, if you inhale on a 4 count, exhale on a 4 count.
- Choose a number, say 25, and count backwards on your exhales. If you become distracted and lose count, just pick up counting where you last recall.
This summer, my daughter snapped the above photo of me resting and focusing on breath work after touring a historic home in New York’s Hudson Valley. Since then I have enjoyed countless conversations with fellow teachers and students - about our ability (or lack of ability) to rest. What we all seem to need is permission - knowing that it’s okay to sit down and just breathe, just be.
May we all be. Permission granted.
first published online at www.LongLisa.com in 2008
