The Breath of Hatha - Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing

Teaching Hatha Yoga has been a joy & a privilege. To put it simply, this path is one of many out their dedicated to helping others to find healing in their lives, to create space for themselves, and to connect to a sense of inner peace. What sets it apart from other paths out there? Well for starters Hatha Yoga has been around for over 5,000 years. Making it one very old path to follow, but the cool thing about it is that it isn't the same as it was thousands of years ago. It is ever evolving over time, and has been for quite some time. Maybe it's because of this evolution that people will often express to me that they are confused about what Hatha Yoga is all about. I also run into skeptics, who share the view point that it only a way to get exercise, that it is only concerned with improving our physical bodies through asana work. That it is not a spiritual practice. While its true that Hatha yoga begins with asana practice, the working the body through asana practice is done in such a way that it begins to affect all aspects of our being, not just the physical. It also includes spiritual and mental work! What I like to tell people is simply that Hatha yoga is about developing tools they can use to improve to their health and frurther their own self-development.

The foundation of my Hatha Yoga practice is to learn, or re-learn how to breathe properly. To have my students slide into awareness of their breath rather than to trying to force or push them to get it right. Be sensitive & compassionate. Gentle remind them to come back to the sensing the rhythm of their breath every time they notice that the mind has wandered off and started focusing on thoughts about work, family, friends, emotions, responsibilities, etc. It is said that babies already know how to breathe properly without any training. Only later in life, when stress sneaks into the field of our consciousness, do we forget how it is done.

The point is that the deeper we breathe & the longer we can concentrate only on the rhythm of our own breath the more relaxed and open-minded we will become. I like to start my gentle classes in svanasana (corpse pose) and practice diaphragmatic breathing with the eyes closed for up to 10 minutes before starting asana practice. I then use the same breathing rhythm during the asana practice to help flow into and out of each posture safely. Doing so increases the body, mind & spirit connection. With every inhale I imagine bringing in fresh prana, or life-force energy, and every exhale releasing toxins and tensions stored up in the body, muscles, or mind. It is said that releasing tension from the physical body removes subtle energy blocks from within our energy field. Food for thought.

" Energy flows through the energy field through fine channels, or nadis, which are themselves composed of energy. Where many nadis cross, energy centers (or “chakras”) are formed. As major “hubs” of energy distribution, the chakras direct the energy which vitalizes the nerves and glands and ultimately all of the structures of the body. Models of the energy field describe layers or subtle energy bodies in its structure. It is through the energy field that we are connected with everyone and everything else that exists."  -  http://heartofhealing.net/energy-healing/human-energy-field/