Intention
I took a break from writing to discern my intention with blogging. It began as a way to express myself creatively while connecting with others. After a few months I couldn’t fight the monotony of my life, and I felt like I had nothing more to say.
I also paused my yoga classes. I became a yoga teacher to help integrate the body into psychotherapy and self-healing. Cueing alignment and sensation is my favorite part of teaching. When the mind processes a cue to adjust the body in asana, it feels like “leveling up” in a video game. The mind and body operate in unison, as they are meant to function, and you’re fully present in the experience. The cues keep you engaged. The work is hard, and your body quivers with muscular effort and mental focus. It’s invigorating!
I’m currently participating in advanced teacher training, where I’m learning more about alignment and cues. I’m also completing a breath work program where I’m learning all kinds of new cues to aid in functional breathing mechanics. I love this work, and I’m excited to share it with you. I don’t know how often I’ll be posting content, but my intention is to teach you what I’m learning. In small, actionable steps, I want to help you build awareness of your breath and body sensations. As Thich Nat Hanh said, “To be aware of your body is the beginning of self love.” Breathing is an unconscious function that shapes our perceptions and reality. When we bring awareness and make it a conscious process, we reshape our perceptions and reality to better support us. It’s free, low risk, and it has a huge potential to help you feel better in numerous ways.
In his book Just Breathe, Dan Brule speaks of three convergences in Breathwork:
Combining consciousness and breathing
Combining consciousness and relaxation
Combining conscious breathing and complete relaxation
Try bringing consciousness to your breathing by dedicating time to being with your breath. I’m talking a few minutes, a few times a day. Some ways to do this:
Set a reminder on your phone to practice being with breath 3-5 times a day.
Time breath awareness to mealtime, pausing to practice before eating.
Tie breath building to bathroom breaks.
Tune into your breath as soon as you wake up, before getting out of bed, and before you go to sleep each night.
Combining consciousness and breathing entails presence. Notice what your breath is doing, where you feel it most in your body, and how you feel before, during, and after the practice. If meditating or mindfulness is a new year’s resolution, guess what? This is a meditation/mindfulness practice! Your breath is always with you. It gives you data about everything in your life, and you can cue it to reshape your experience. Try paying attention, and notice what happens!
