Dynamic flow with breath is a mantra in the practice of certain types of yoga. I often hear it as I quiet my mind and focus on breath and movement during practice. It came to me today while reading and the words” let it go” seemed to leap from the page. Let it go – words that I had said often lately to myself and others. Words that encouraged letting go of the old self, of old wounds and even old victories that kept me stuck in the past unable to fully embrace and enjoy the here and now. I am not new to yoga but somehow today it was as if scattered pieces of a puzzle magically assembled into a picture that I fully saw and the magnitude of the whole made me gasp with the weighty revelation.
Breath is crucial to yoga practice, you inhale to create space and you exhale to let go, and go deeper. Breath and movement, a dynamic stillness that is active yet calm. It is no wonder that the yin yang of this practice allows us to experience our whole selves in such remarkable ways.
When the pose is challenging the inhale brings energy preparing you to flow with the exhale. The human tendency is to clinch and tighten in difficult moments but yoga teaches you to breathe into the tightness, to direct your breath where it is needed, release and gently push a little deeper. As you exhale the fear, doubt and self defeating poisons to your soul, you flow a little deeper, and stretch a little farther. If you attempted to hold your breath or inhale to go deeper you would hinder your movement.
Life challenges can cause us to inhale at the wrong moments. We receive a frightening diagnosis, lose a job, hit a speed bump in our business and we hold our breath. Giving into the process seems counterintuitive. The last thing we want in times of challenge or crisis is to go toward what causes us pain. We groan at the discomfort unwilling to believe that we can embrace the discomfort and push past it to release.
Yet, without the free flow of oxygen we hinder exactly what we are trying to gain – forward movement. Our vision becomes truncated and we tighten the field and constrict our muscles rather than breathing and going just a bit farther. We hold in self-limiting thoughts, we rationalize away the possibility of more movement and we hurt even more because as we hold it all in we groan and create more resistance.
When we inhale to gain strength and exhale into the flow of life we become elongated and more flexible. We become better and stronger because we have learned to breathe in and out, to adjust to the pacing, relax our jaw at the right moment and to give ourselves over to dynamic flow. We learn the art of steely stillness, an intensely focused quiet that is both still and active.
I have been told that yoga is referred to as “yoga practice” because you are always progressing and getting better, never arriving at one final victory. Isn’t this true of life as well? The trick is remembering to breathe and go with rather than against the flow. And thankfully, we have many opportunities to progress with practice.
How’s your breath today? Do you hold your breath or let go when faced with challenge?
Jeanne Dininni says
I can SO relate, Wendi! (Let me know when your book comes out.) 😉
Jeanne Dininni says
I do believe you’re right, Karen! I’m also trying to focus a bit more on exercise, since physical fitness also helps lower the resting heart rate. All the time I spend in front of the computer plying my trade has definitely lowered my fitness level — a real occupational hazard for the writer when not balanced by a regular exercise regimen.
Wendi Kelly says
ah…(raising hand) that string attached thing?
I once thought I should write a book called “Making Deals With God,the wrong answer to everything…”
What a life-long lesson in progress…
If only He A) did things in MY time, B) answered prayers MY way and C)Didn’t seem to feel that No was often the right answer.
Where would I be then? I shudder to think about it.
So many times when I look back, I realized how many bullets I have dodged by NOT being the one completely in charge of my destiny.
I am really working hard on letting go of those strings and not making deals. I don’t want to sale that ship. I’ve discovered I’m not really the best Captain after all.
karen says
Hi Andrew – Riding those bumps is the challenging bit isn’t it? Fortunately we have our lives to “practice.” I share your faith but as Jeanne mentioned I am guilty of letting go with a string attached. If it were not for mercy and grace…
Hi Jeanne! – So very glad that you got a good report from the doctor. Taking just a few minutes to be quiet and focus on deep belly breathing lowers your pulse and blood pressure. Sounds like it’s just what the doctor ordered!
Jeanne Dininni says
Excellent advice, Karen! Judging from the fact that yesterday my cardiologist told me I need to relax, I’d say I probably tend to hold my breath more than release it — even though I may not always realize it at the time. (A good reason to be more “present” and pay more attention to my body!)
Fortunately, heart-wise, everything seems to be working well (other than a few minor issues that tend to occur as we get older but don’t require treatment). Blood pressure was fabulous. Yet, (just as one might expect after what I’ve said above), my pulse was a bit high.
The doctor’s statement really got my attention, making me realize just how tense I often (usually?) am, as I work on my writing, research, client communication, social media presence, and job-hunting — and that doesn’t even include my other life responsibilities (which often fall by the wayside). Definitely need to work on developing that place of calm, balanced breathing and rest. Though I, too, believe in letting go and letting God — and do it often — I just as often leave a string attached and soon start pulling that problem right back! All I can say is, I’m definitely a work in progress! 🙂
Thanks for another wonderful post! Definitely gets one thinking!
Andrew Heaton says
Karen,
Air is essential to life and as far as I am concerned, the best form of breathing at any time is natural breathing.
So too with life. Whilst we should not simply go with the flow blindly, in most cases, we are best off moving forward with the momentum of life rather than trying to fight against it. And when the rough patches come, we must learn to ride the bumps to some degree.
Part of it for me is turning my life over to God. I must do whatever I can, but in the end, there are some things which are beyond our control. It is with regard to these matters that I myself need to learn to just turn it over to God and let him deal with it according to his plan and his divine ways.
karen says
Hi Wendi! You hit on a key thing – creativity. You are so right that when we hold on we hinder our ability to innovate solutions. Let Go and let God time tested wisdom and still I keep learning…
karen says
Hi Robert, as a master clincher I totally relate! Lettigo is a lesson God continues to teach me and just when I think I really am inhaling and exhaling in the right places I discover that once again I’m resisting.
Wendi Kelly says
I just finished my yoga practice ten minutes ago before I sat down with my morning coffee and came here to read. Nice surprise to come here and read about yoga.
I agree that holding on tight to negative energy and gripping the problems stops us from seeing the solution and letting creativity and love work their magic to resolve and find solutions. The old “Let Go and Let God” works on so many levels…
Robert Hruzek says
I know exactly what you mean! It’s like trying not to tense up when you know tensing up will cause more pain – and that knowledge makes you tense up anyway! Just gettin’ to the point where you can breathe freely and relax, no matter what – well, that’s a place we all need to reach.
Oh, and you misspelld it. It’s actually just one word: “lettigo” 😀