The Breath Pulse

A Devotional Look at Breathing and Yoga

oga continues to gain in popularity all over the world as more and more people discover their personal capacity to access authentic self and truth. With all the infinite variety offered through multiple yogic systems, one might wonder what the common threads are that tie it all together. What is it that allows us access to deeper understanding and personal peace? Perhaps one answer is the pulse and magic of our breathing.

Our breath is so much more than simple gas exchange in the lungs and the movement of the diaphragm. It is our best and most vital mediator between the body vessel and the soul, between human and divine. When untroubled, breath is rhythmic in nature, fluid and oceanic. It is our means of accessing the deepest truth in our practice on and especially off the yoga mat.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, written between 500 and 300 BC, is the definitive heart and source of yoga as it is generally practiced today. Within the sutras are definitions of the eight "limbs" of spiritual practice given to us by Patanjali as guidance on our yogic path. Pranayama, or "breath regulation," is the fourth of these eight limbs, and it sequentially follows the third limb, asana, or "posture." There are as many techniques for practicing pranayama as there are for practicing asana, and either aspect of the practice can be overwhelming.

Long before we get to the specific practice of pranayama, however, we must first become fully aware of the natural process of breath in the body and how it ebbs and flows. Everything we do on and off the mat must become saturated with this simple yet profound understanding of the breath pulse. In short, we must remember how to breathe like we did when we were babies, unhindered by accumulated psychological, physical and emotional trauma.

Our breath moves gracefully in a multitude of ways throughout the body. It is worth knowing the fundamental flowing currents and the anatomy of breath in order to take our first steps toward an authentic breathing practice. Consequently, it is worth noting that a well-taught asana practice should be replete with breath guidance. Without it, the practice takes on a cerebrally driven physical edge that is far from what it was intended to be. We let the breath and its unparalleled power to heal inspire a practice that is as much internal as it is external.

Inhalation and exhalation are partners in the ever-present flow of our lives. One cannot live without the other, and as remedial as that may sound, it is important to understand the yin-yang relationship in the breath. Inhalation is expansion, fullness, ascent and inspiration. Exhalation is contraction, emptiness, descent and expiration. These two opposing aspects of the breath pulse are perpetually yearning to come into a natural state of balance with each other. On a deeper level, inhalation and exhalation each contain opposing currents as well.

Let’s look at the inhalation, for example. As breath enters the lungs, it passes into the nostrils or the mouth and travels down the brachial passageways into the lungs. The respiratory diaphragm itself descends as it flattens, and the internal organs likewise descend. Even the thin muscles of the pelvic floor mirror this descent, and although they support the volume of the abdominal cavity, there is a fullness and slight downward movement necessary to allow space for a deep breath in. Not so ironically, with all the grounding down during the inhale, there is an undeniable feeling of profound energetic and subtle physical lift. It becomes obvious that in order for something to rise, something must descend.

The exhalation is no different. As we exhale, the breath rises up through the brachial passageways as it exits the body. The respiratory diaphragm, pelvic diaphragm, heart and internal organs all rise. There is obvious ascent in the exhale, and yet we simultaneously experience a feeling of energetic and physical grounding and quiet emptiness.

In the yogic tradition, there are five basic "winds," or vayus, describing the energetic flow of life force, or prana, in the body. The wind attributed to the upward energetic movement of the inhalation is called prana vayu. The wind attributed to the downward energetic movement of the exhalation is called apana vayu. These two currents must balance each other for overall health and vitality. Many of us tend to predominantly inhale more or exhale more without knowing it, and thus we live in a state of either excess excitement or depression, flightiness or lethargy. It is most valuable to feel the simultaneity of these currents as you breathe. There are qualities of prana vayu within apana vayu and vice versa.

Here is a breathing practice designed to bring awareness to the rising and falling currents of the breath:

Sit comfortably on the forward edge of a folded blanket or meditation cushion so the hips are elevated enough to allow the spine to remain easily upright. You can cross your legs or sit in any meditation posture. Close your eyes, and relax around your breathing. Take a step back away from your breath, observing it without judgment or control. Set a conscious intention to receive the inhale rather than take it; in short, get out of its way. See if you can relax the lungs themselves, allowing more elasticity in the thoracic cavity, the house of the heart.

As you inhale, without shaping the breath in any way, try to observe the downward motion of the respiratory diaphragm and the belly space. Feel the breath moving down into the lungs and the more subtle descent of the pelvic diaphragm. At the same time, can you feel the elevation of the mind, spine and rib space, and the ensuing experience of fullness? Observe several inhalations, letting your exhalations be thorough and smooth. If your mind begins to get tense or you feel discomfort in your breath in any way, release all thought and let the breath return to its natural state.

Shift your awareness now to the exhale. As you breathe out, observe the rising of the breath up and out of the lungs. Feel the subtle ascent of the internal organs and the pelvic diaphragm, and at the same moment experience the energetic grounding and the sweet emptiness and quietude that follow.

The exercise described above helps remind us of just one aspect of breathing naturally and fully. As you open up to your breath, notice the front-to-back and side-to-side depth of your breath not only in the lung space, but in the entire torso, head, neck, pelvis and legs. Eventually you may take this breath sensitivity off the meditation cushion and observe your breath as described above while standing, walking or ultimately in a challenging yoga pose. Your breath awareness may also begin to point out postural patterns or areas in the body that lack prana. For example, the back of the respiratory diaphragm runs behind and supports the kidneys, which tend to posturally be either too forward or too far back relative to the vertical gravity line when sitting or standing. If you can observe a great expanse across the back diaphragm while inhaling without struggle, this is a first step toward balancing posture and bringing health to the kidneys, shoulders, deep belly and hips.

Breathing can’t truly be taught; it can only be remembered. It is the most primal of all human experiences. As you rediscover the forgotten subtlety and depth of your breathing, you will relax more and more around the breath pulse. Each inhalation becomes a gift and each exhalation an opportunity to express gratitude. This awareness reawakens tremendous latent magical powers and can bring you into your vital center in ways nothing else can. The busy mind takes second seat, and we return home to our ancient roots of instinct and intuition.

For a schedule of Sean’s local Santa Fe yoga classes, please visit his website at www.kayaprajna.com.




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The Breath Pulse A Devotional Look at Breathing and Yoga oga continues to gain in popularity all over the world as more and more people discover their personal capacity to access authentic self and truth. With all the infinite variety offered through multiple yogic systems, one might wonder what the common threads are that tie it all together. What is it that allows us access to deeper understanding and personal peace? Perhaps one answer is the pulse and magic of our breathing. Our breath is so much more than simple gas exchange in the lungs and the movement of the diaphragm. It is our best and most vital mediator between the body vessel and the soul, between human and divine. When untroubled, breath is rhythmic in nature, fluid and oceanic. It is our means of accessing the deepest truth in our practice on and especially off the yoga mat. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, written between 500 and 300 BC, is the definitive heart and source of yoga as it is generally practiced today. Within the sutras are definitions of the eight "limbs" of spiritual practice given to us by Patanjali as guidance on our yogic path. Pranayama, or "breath regulation," is the fourth of these eight limbs, and it sequentially follows the third limb, asana, or "posture." There are as many techniques for practicing pranayama as there are for practicing asana, and either aspect of the practice can be overwhelming. Long before we get to the specific practice of pranayama, however, we must first become fully aware of the natural process of breath in the body and how it ebbs and flows. Everything we do on and off the mat must become saturated with this simple yet profound understanding of the breath pulse. In short, we must remember how to breathe like we did when we were babies, unhindered by accumulated psychological, physical and emotional trauma. Our breath moves gracefully in a multitude of ways throughout the body. It is worth knowing the fundamental flowing currents and the anatomy of breath in order to take our first steps toward an authentic breathing practice. Consequently, it is worth noting that a well-taught asana practice should be replete with breath guidance. Without it, the practice takes on a cerebrally driven physical edge that is far from what it was intended to be. We let the breath and its unparalleled power to heal inspire a practice that is as much internal as it is external. Inhalation and exhalation are partners in the ever-present flow of our lives. One cannot live without the other, and as remedial as that may sound, it is important to understand the yin-yang relationship in the breath. Inhalation is expansion, fullness, ascent and inspiration. Exhalation is contraction, emptiness, descent and expiration. These two opposing aspects of the breath pulse are perpetually yearning to come into a natural state of balance with each other. On a deeper level, inhalation and exhalation each contain opposing currents as well. Let’s look at the inhalation, for example. As breath enters the lungs, it passes into the nostrils or the mouth and travels down the brachial passageways into the lungs. The respiratory diaphragm itself descends as it flattens, and the internal organs likewise descend. Even the thin muscles of the pelvic floor mirror this descent, and although they support the volume of the abdominal cavity, there is a fullness and slight downward movement necessary to allow space for a deep breath in. Not so ironically, with all the grounding down during the inhale, there is an undeniable feeling of profound energetic and subtle physical lift. It becomes obvious that in order for something to rise, something must descend. The exhalation is no different. As we exhale, the breath rises up through the brachial passageways as it exits the body. The respiratory diaphragm, pelvic diaphragm, heart and internal organs all rise. There is obvious ascent in the exhale, and yet we simultaneously experience a feeling of energetic and physical grounding and quiet emptiness. In the yogic tradition, there are five basic "winds," or vayus, describing the energetic flow of life force, or prana, in the body. The wind attributed to the upward energetic movement of the inhalation is called prana vayu. The wind attributed to the downward energetic movement of the exhalation is called apana vayu. These two currents must balance each other for overall health and vitality. Many of us tend to predominantly inhale more or exhale more without knowing it, and thus we live in a state of either excess excitement or depression, flightiness or lethargy. It is most valuable to feel the simultaneity of these currents as you breathe. There are qualities of prana vayu within apana vayu and vice versa. Here is a breathing practice designed to bring awareness to the rising and falling currents of the breath: Sit comfortably on the forward edge of a folded blanket or meditation cushion so the hips are elevated enough to allow the spine to remain easily upright. You can cross your legs or sit in any meditation posture. Close your eyes, and relax around your breathing. Take a step back away from your breath, observing it without judgment or control. Set a conscious intention to receive the inhale rather than take it; in short, get out of its way. See if you can relax the lungs themselves, allowing more elasticity in the thoracic cavity, the house of the heart. As you inhale, without shaping the breath in any way, try to observe the downward motion of the respiratory diaphragm and the belly space. Feel the breath moving down into the lungs and the more subtle descent of the pelvic diaphragm. At the same time, can you feel the elevation of the mind, spine and rib space, and the ensuing experience of fullness? Observe several inhalations, letting your exhalations be thorough and smooth. If your mind begins to get tense or you feel discomfort in your breath in any way, release all thought and let the breath return to its natural state. Shift your awareness now to the exhale. As you breathe out, observe the rising of the breath up and out of the lungs. Feel the subtle ascent of the internal organs and the pelvic diaphragm, and at the same moment experience the energetic grounding and the sweet emptiness and quietude that follow. The exercise described above helps remind us of just one aspect of breathing naturally and fully. As you open up to your breath, notice the front-to-back and side-to-side depth of your breath not only in the lung space, but in the entire torso, head, neck, pelvis and legs. Eventually you may take this breath sensitivity off the meditation cushion and observe your breath as described above while standing, walking or ultimately in a challenging yoga pose. Your breath awareness may also begin to point out postural patterns or areas in the body that lack prana. For example, the back of the respiratory diaphragm runs behind and supports the kidneys, which tend to posturally be either too forward or too far back relative to the vertical gravity line when sitting or standing. If you can observe a great expanse across the back diaphragm while inhaling without struggle, this is a first step toward balancing posture and bringing health to the kidneys, shoulders, deep belly and hips. Breathing can’t truly be taught; it can only be remembered. It is the most primal of all human experiences. As you rediscover the forgotten subtlety and depth of your breathing, you will relax more and more around the breath pulse. Each inhalation becomes a gift and each exhalation an opportunity to express gratitude. This awareness reawakens tremendous latent magical powers and can bring you into your vital center in ways nothing else can. The busy mind takes second seat, and we return home to our ancient roots of instinct and intuition. For a schedule of Sean’s local Santa Fe yoga classes, please visit his website at www.kayaprajna.com.		Inhalation and exhalation are partners in the ever-present flow of our lives.