Prolific You

Do you know why you breathe or why breathing is such an essence of life?  Being that you are alive, I suspect you have a clue, but allow me to share some insights.

If you are aware of your surrounding, you will notice there yoga studios are ubiquitous on almost every street corner.  More and more people seem to have an insatiable appetite for healthier body, mind and spirit.   And rightly so, although I have not been to a yoga studio since 2006, and while that`s a predilection based on my convictions, I have since opted to practice whatever moves and poses I choose in my controlled environment thereby engaging in whatever directives I so choose.

Recently, while I lay down practicing my breathing… deeply breath in and breath; I realized the profound importance of breathing–breath is life, or simply put breathing is the essence of being– meaning if you are breathing you are alive, and are thus connected to living by breath. Therefore, when you breath, you are alive, your spirit is alive, and if you are not breathing you would be presumed dead.

Nevertheless, as I lay on my mart inhaling and exhaling deeply; a thought come to me–Breath is the Spirit of God in me, and in every person alive. Remember the story they told you at Sunday school while you were young; that we all descended from Adam, the man created by the Creator from the dirt, whom God breathed upon? No doubt I have heard the story many times, but it was not until my breathing exercise that I perceived this deep truth: Breath is life! In order to be alive, one has to breath in and breath out just as one has to give if they expect to receive.

I have since endeavored to do the rhythmic breathing exercise more and more, and this while I understand has many healthy benefits; it makes sense to me that when one seek to be in the moment, they are more in-tune with the richness within. Perhaps explaining the rampant desire of many to detach from the distractions around us. So, as I relaxed, I suddenly begin sensed the spirit within me begin to raise and move in a manner I could sense within my body; and as I continued in this exercise, I realized I was becoming more aware of myself, my senses, my being and eventually found myself engaged in the very art of awe-ness, thankfulness in being in the moment.

According to American Institute of Stress (www.stress.org), there are many benefits of Intentional Breathing. And while you may think that`s a simple tasks, think again– only those who apply intentional effort in rhythmic breathing benefit greatly. Here are some of the healthy benefits:
Reduce stress
Reduce blood pressure
Strengthening of the Core muscles
Relieve general pain
Promotes blood circulation
Releases toxins from the body
Promotes healthy sleep
Increase energy levels
Increase focus and concentration
Improve self-Awareness

The rhythmic movement of inhaling and exhaling revealed an exciting truth of the world around us. Essentially, life is characterized by the very nature of a rhythmic system or life cycles: the contraction and expansion, giving and receiving, day and night, waking and sleeping, summer and winter or life and death. Amazingly this is the reality of the world we live in which typifies life itself–and to me this could not be far from the truth, that the Divine we so claim to experience when we are in the moment or still during the breathing exercise is the Giver of life Himself–the Creator of all things. Its no surprise then that when we choose to be in the moment we experience life itself. Bringing me to this statement spoken by Jesus, “I am the way, the truth and life.“ Interestingly, you and I don`t even have to believe this truth to experience the benefits thereof; how awesome and loving is our God to all mankind!!!