THE BREATH DOESN’T LIE
Sara de Clercq - 14 November 2022
What is the first thing we do when we enter this world?
That’s right, take a deep breath.
What is the last thing we do when we leave/move on from this world?
Let the breath fall out.
Our first experience of the world, and our first breath in this world is like an imprint on the body. Literally the cells in the body respond to this very first experience.
The body remembers this first experience and this first breath.
Therefore, our first experience in this world has a huge influence on the way we view life and the world, and our place in it. This then sits at the very foundation of our lives and the lens we view life through.
This lens determines choices we make, choices we don’t make, what we are afraid of, what we enjoy, what we like or don’t like, behaviors, actions & fundamental beliefs and perceptions of ourselves and others that we are often not consciously aware of.
In other words those first few moments determine, for a large part, the course of our lives. And the breath is an anchoring point in this. Because the first breath informs the next, and that breath informs the next and so forth.
”The way we breathe is the way we live”, we could say. Are you curious how this work? join our upcoming 8-day Breathwork Intensive Retreat in Bali and dive deep into your own breath & body.
Being born in a loving, safe & nurturing environment is therefore crucial for a healthy and balanced life experience. However, even then, we all move through life where we encounter difficulty, hurt, pain, fear and pressure. This is simply what it means to be human and is a part of our human experience.
What do we do when we experience pain, fear, hurt or stress?
Most of us hold our breath. Some of us might breathe faster, slower, higher up in the chest, hold the lower belly - whatever it is, the breath changes in pattern & rhythm.
These changes of pattern & rhythm also form imprints on the body & the breath.These patterns become unconscious and slowly we forget what it is like to breathe like a baby. Slowly we forget what we truly are. Our true identity slowly moves to the background.
Over time we might breathe more and more shallow and higher up in the chest, for most people. This is then directly reflective of how we view life, the situation and ourselves in particular moments. Even though in our conscious mind, we might feel ‘fine’ - the body is receiving a different message.
Even with a very good upbringing and a healthy balanced life, these patterns will be alive in every human's body & mind and affect the way we think & feel.
If we don’t work with the breath consciously there are certain patterns that sit in the background that we are simply not aware of.
And like C.G. Jung said:
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
Working with the breath, alongside integrated coaching or inquiry allows for unconscious patterns to come to the forefront and be cleared and released.
A Simple Practice
Start watching your breath regularly during the day.
You don’t need to change the breath, simply bring awareness to the rhythm of the breath.
Notice the breath when walking, working out, doing groceries, working behind the laptop, standing under the shower (especially when you turn the shower cold), talking to someone, presenting an idea at work, reading a book, cooking, watching a movie etc.
Also notice the breath during moments where there might be emotions of anger, fear, worry, overwhelm, excitement, sadness, pleasure, laughter and so forth.
Listen to the breath, listen to the body, they are constantly communicating with you.
What are they communicating with you at this very moment?
Most people hold their breath when working and being supposedly ‘focussed’ on work, this is what the conscious mind might tell us, however the breath & the body tells us otherwise, there is actually stress in the system.
This was definitely an insight (amongst many other insights) when I became more consciously aware of the breath. It literally blew me away how the breath is so directly reflective of whatever the mind & body were experiencing in a particular moment. Simple moments; like taking a cold shower, and there is the breathhold. Moments when talking; the breath is higher in the chest. All of these variables that I wasn’t aware of before.
Also what’s been noticed is that when in flow, for example whilst painting or running, the breath is very deep, very full and the body is relaxed. By conscious use of the breath it is very easy to drop into an almost constant flow state - a state of pure awareness. Where we transcend meaning making of mind and ‘feelings’ associated with this, where we can objectively watch
- as a silent observer - what is arising and in that same breath falling away.
When we are aware of the breath we are in the body and we are present.
It’s not possible to be FULLY aware of the breath and simultaneously be in a future or past scenario or any other scenario in mind.
That’s why working with the breath is a great tool to also work with overwhelm, stress, worry, anxiety, depression and many other things. During our 1 to 1 Private Breathwork Sessions we can work on this specifically for you and what you’re needs are.
In this moment everything is well.
All difficulty of mind comes when we are in either a future made up scenario in mind, or a past made up memory in mind.
Breath Awareness for Stress Management & Health of Body
Most diseases in the body are as a result of dis-ease, that is: ‘lack of ease’ (stress) in mind.
Fight or flight mode is healthy - when there is actual danger.
This is the case for most animals. A deer runs when there is a tiger, and stops running when the tiger is no longer a threat. A deer responds to each moment in a way that is aligned and in harmony with what is happening in that moment. This is because a deer doesn’t use memory, it’s perfectly in harmony with what is happening in the present moment.
We humans are a little different.
We have the capacity for memory and future thinking.
These days most humans don’t need to run from tigers anymore, but most of us spend most of our life in fight or flight mode - and we don’t step out of this mode.
The reason for this is because we remember a ‘stressful’ experience and are afraid of this happening again. So we try to do everything to avoid this ‘stressful experience’ from happening again.
However in the very act of trying to avoid this stressful experience, we actually create stress in the system.
The mind creates stories about future scenarios that may or may not happen which puts the body in fight or flight mode.
For most of us, all of the time. This is the nature of the mind and this happens for every human being. To different degrees yes, yet it’s still happening for every human being as long as we operate from mind.
By changing the breath you can direct your thinking more consciously and have power over your mind, rather than the mind having power over you. The breath allows a bit more space between thoughts and other thoughts and between you and your thoughts. Or a step further, by breathing consciously we can be aware of the mind, rather than being identified with its content.
Among other practices, breath awareness can ground this in a more consistent and mature way.
Breath Awareness for Health of Body
By changing the breath you can also change the signals you are sending the body & every cell in the body. When we breathe differently the makeup of our cells literally changes. When we improve our breathing, our health and energy levels also improve, since as the blood flows better, our tissues, organs and brain receive more oxygen.
When the brain receives more oxygen we have more capacity for healthy decision making, creativity, seeing opportunity & being flexible. Which can allow for a more balanced and wholehearted way of living.
Breath Awareness as a practice for Spiritual Purification
This is the simple practice of Breath Awareness.
When we are aware of the breath, we are not in mind. We can’t be.
Now most people pay attention to their breath by use of mind and think they have mastered Breath Awareness, however this is not the case.
Paying attention to the breath might feel like being present, however it is not.
Instead of attention we could also say A -tension, we are adding tension (energy) to whatever we are focussing on - the breath in this case.
Awareness is something completely different. Awareness is a whole different level of consciousness - beyond mind. Awareness is open, relaxed & still. There is no energy being given or taken. There is simply awareness. Watching - without adding or removing energy to whatever is being observed.
So Breath Awareness is that, watching the breath.
Nothing more, nothing less.
In theory very simple.
In practice - it takes time.
Breath Awareness alone ( or meditation or any other Waking Up modality) will not bring Spiritual Purification or Enlightenment. However it can be used as a powerful tool to enhance your practice.
Awareness of breath leads to an increased awareness of mind & body - how does the identity (ego-construct) construct itself in the moment.
And how can we listen, so deeply, to the signals of body & breath that we can notice thoughts & sensations arise before they even have arisen?
This is something that is being explored here at the moment.
And it feels true and useful to bring this more simple way of noticing breath into the world of Breathwork.
If you are interested in exploring the power of the breath for yourself, we are offering Private 1 to 1 Breathwork Sessions in Byron, Sydney & Melbourne.
Ready to go deeper? join our upcoming 8-day Breathwork Intensive Retreat in Bali HERE.
Exploring the breath in a Group setting or with your Team at work is extremely powerful to cultivate more trust, higher productivity, more creativity, deeper intimacy, healthy and authentic expression & a deep connection to one and other.
Undergoing a group breath work experience with your team, family or group of friends can be profoundly liberating on many levels. You can find more about Group Breathwork HERE.