Honor Our Breath of Life
Breathe, Black woman, breathe.
“A lifetime is not what is between the moments of birth and death. A lifetime is one moment between my two little breaths.”
-Chade Meng, Taoist Poet
It is said that each of us is allotted a set number of breaths for our time on earth. Today was the first time that I encountered those written words and I immediately paused in deep reflection.
I have always taken breathing for granted and only paid close attention when choking or during fits of coughing that closed my airways and had me gasping for breath. In the past, I have always viewed life from the perspective of time and not one of breaths.
Can you imagine or have you ever thought that only one breath separates life from death?
As a former labor and delivery nurse, getting my patients to control their breathing during their contractions was standard practice.
Concentrating on their breathing serves as a distraction, which relaxes their mind and their muscles. With proper breathing techniques and coaching during labor, many women deliver their babies without any medication and minimal tearing.
I have also witnessed the first breaths of countless infants. As a nurse, I understand the importance of breathing. The primary role of breathing is to absorb oxygen and to expel carbon dioxide through the movement of our lungs.
Breathing does so many good things – it removes waste from our bodies, it helps to maintain our nervous system. Breathing helps with stress relief; deep breathing can help calm anxiety and clear our minds. It even helps improve sleep quality.
People have always known from the beginning of time that breathing is sacred. In Hebrew, the word “ruah” and the Greek word “pneuma” is translated as breathe or spirit. In Sanskrit, the word “prana” translates as life force.
In the past, many people used “breathe prayers" where short lines of scripture were contemplated (silently in their minds) while taking very slow, deep breaths to help ease anxiety and for comfort.
I believe that breathing exercises are powerful tools that can be used for maintaining health and wellbeing.
A journey inward, outward. The freedom of letting go, one breath at a time.
Today our lives are hurried and often filled with stress. We complain of pain, stress, anxiety, and depression. Good stress activates the fight or flight response but when you are chronically under stress, the risk of chronic disease, infertility, insomnia, and possibly cancer increases.
We’ve all heard the saying, “Take a deep breath and count to ten.” That was my daily advice to my youngest, and there were times that I took that advice for myself. This advice reflects the ancient awareness of the relationship between breathing and the restoration of calm.
Breathing exercises are one of the quickest and easiest ways to calm the mind, relax the body, and center the spirit. In general, they allow the mind to be completely in the here and now. It's when we are in the present that we experience calmness and peace because we are not thinking about past mistakes or what tomorrow might bring.
When our breaths are slow and relaxed, tension and anxiety simply fade away. Taking slow, deep breaths is a simple, highly effective way of relieving stress by activating the parasympathetic nervous system which slows the great rate, lowers blood pressure, enhances digestion, and causes muscles to relax.
Here are four ways to honor our breath of life:
In the stillness of a moment, take a deep breath and allow the world to melt away.
1. Practice deep breathing: Inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again for four. This can help stabilize your emotions and focus your mind.
2. Practice breath of fire: Inhale rapidly and deeply through the nose, focusing on active exhalations. This can create a shift in energy levels and mental clarity.
3. Breathe intentionally: Inhale deeply into forgotten spaces of the body and exhale gratitude.
4. Pause and breathe deeply: This can help calm the mind, increase mindfulness, improve physical wellbeing, and connect with the inner you.
