Tag: opening breath

Make Room In Your Pelvis

Have you ever checked in with the tension that you may be holding in your pelvic floor muscles??  If you live in a Western culture I would be willing to bet that there is quite a bit of unnecessary tension there (we don’t squat much!), which is coupled with self image and the way we think and feel about ourselves and the world we inhabit.

The pelvis is part of the lower breathing space and pelvic floor muscles directly affect the quality and fullness of our breathing.  Here is what Dennis Lewis says about it in Breathe Into Being:

“These muscles include the perineum, located between the anus and sexual organs, and the pelvic diaphragm, which stretches across the floor of the pelvic cavity.  In healthy natural breathing, during inhalation the diaphragm in the chest moves downward, the belly expands outward, the abdomen widens in all directions, and the pelvic floor moves slightly downward.  During exhalation, the entire process is reversed, with the pelvic diaphragm moving slightly upward.  If the pelvic floor is chronically constricted in any way, a spontaneous natural breath is not possible.  The free movement through us of the breath of life requires a pelvic floor that is both relaxed and resilient.”

When these muscles are relaxed and open you will also feel more grounded  and rooted to the earth and a sense of peacefulness may flow in.    Increasing awareness in this area is done by squatting more often, and paying attention to the muscles in the pelvic floor and whether they are guarded and tense, or relaxed and open.

Squatting can be difficult for some, so if this is true for you, then simply put something underneath your heels. You can also place your hands in front of you on the floor for balance.  As you squat, notice as you breath the movements in belly, back, pelvis and chest.  Also notice if there is a shift in your tension level, emotions, and mind chatter.  The belly may soften, relax, and let go.  As you practice this it will become easier over time. Muscles will open up that have been chronically tight and holding on for years.

When to do this?  Whenever you might choose to sit in a chair – instead squat!  Watching T.V., listening to music, talking on the phone….the possibilities are endless.  Try it out with the intention of just observing and watching your breath.  This practice is not meant to be a work out move or even a yoga technique!  It is simply inhabiting your body, grounding to the earth,  and making more room for life!

OTHER  BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:

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www.DivineLifeJournal.com

Life Breathing Through Us

When we come together with another life form we share the breath in the air that surrounds us.  We take of the same breath so to speak.  Down through the millennium this has continued.  In fact we are breathing and sharing the recycled air of the dinosaurs, the very first humans, the dolphins, and the trees.

In many of the classes, workshops and retreats I have facilitated in the past I often had people sit back to back and feel their own breath first,  then connect with the breath rhythm of the other without changing theirs.  Almost everyone noticed, in a short period of time, that the breath would synchronize and become one.

Perhaps it was one to begin with…   Through this interconnected basic biological process we can feel each other, and with acute knowing understand what is within the other – even if we do not consciously acknowledge it.  What if each of us joined another – or others – in sharing a peaceful breath rhythm with each other?  Would the world change?

Remember these wise words from Thich Nhat Hahn as we breathe in each others presence:

You are me, and I am you.
Isn’t it obvious that we “inter-are”?
You cultivate the flower in yourself, so that I
will be beautiful.
I transform the garbage in myself, so that you will not
have to suffer.
I support you;
you support me.
I am in this world to offer you peace;
you are in this world to bring me joy.
–Thich Nhat Hanh

…and catch yourself before you make that next complaint.  Instead, breathe in union with another for a moment…or two….and become the lake…..

The Feeling Underneath
www.dailyom.com

Be A Lake

An aging master grew tired of his apprentice complaining, and so, one morning, sent him for some salt.
When the apprentice returned, the master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a
glass of water and then to drink it. “How does it taste?” the master asked.  “Bitter,” spit the apprentice.  The
master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in the lake. The
two walked in silence to the nearby lake, and once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water,
the old man said, “Now drink from the lake.”  As the water dripped down the young man’s chin, the master
asked, “How does it taste?” “Fresh,” remarked the apprentice. “Do you taste the salt?” asked the master.
“No,” said the young man.  At this, the master sat beside the young man and said, “The pain of life is pure
salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains the same, exactly the same. But the amount of
bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in.  So when you are in pain, the only thing
you can do is to enlarge your sense of things…stop being a glass. Become a lake.
-a Hindu story

ANNOUNCING!  Global Breathing Events:
On Wednesday, March 9th from 12PM – 3PM (PST) and 8PM – 11PM (GMT) Do As One is collaborating with Tree of Life Celebration to come together in the breath celebrating unity consciousness.   As we enter into the Ninth Wave of the Mayan calender we invite you to join us in the  Universal Breathing Room on DoAsOne.com!

and…

On Sunday, March 20th from 12PM – 3PM (PST) and 8PM – 11PM (GMT) Do As One invites you to breathe together and usher in the Spring and Fall Equinox.  People around the world will be celebrating the change of seasons by uniting in one breath.

 

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:

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DANCING BREATH RAP – DO IT NOW!

Exhale/Inhale

Here you will find the symbols of Inhale and Exhale.  There is an ancient practice called Qi Gong, or Chi Kung, which relies on the breath as an integral piece of the practice.  Qi Gong is described as: “the philosophy and practice of aligning breath, physical activity and awareness for mental, spiritual and corporeal health, as well as the development of human potential. It includes certain forms of martial arts and the spiritual awakening to one’s true nature.”

Like Dan Brule of BreathMastery (who’s website offers 5 core breath practices) you might see in these symbols the following:

“I see in the symbol for the exhale a bold vertical stroke that reminds me of the spine. It has what appears to be a serpent rising and coiling upward around the spine. (depicting what in Yogic literature is called the “Kundalini Serpent”).  That same vertical stoke appears on the inhale too. But on the inhale, I see a downward diagonal stroke shooting thru what looks like a rounded belly. This reminds me to send the breath deep into the abdomen. Directing the breath energy into the “dan tien” is a basic practice in Chi Kung.”

It is within this movement of inhale and exhale that we live and thrive.  In the rising like a serpent up the spine, and the softening of the rounded belly, we move the life energy/chi that is necessary for our vital health and aliveness.

In our often sedentary lifestyles in the Western culture that natural breath is squelched and contracted into a shallow chest effort that often never, ever gets down to our bellies, let alone front, back and sides.  Stagnation and dis-ease converge on our already stimulus overloaded bodies and we lose our zest for life – or perhaps life itself.

This on the other hand is what we aim for:  “For the most part, when the breathing mechanism is uninhibited, it will reflect and express your moment to moment natural state. A healthy breathing mechanism will automatically adjust itself to your energy. It will respond naturally to chemical or metabolic changes, to the intensity of your emotional experience or physical activity. And, it should respond easily effortlessly to your conscious will.” Dan Brule

Continually seeking practices that enhance the practice of breathing consciously, shake us lose from our inhibited and habitual breath patterns, and that increase life energy there appeared on my Facebook page today a very fun video with Dr. George Love (http://www.freewebs.com/4doorstohealth/) of Baton Roca, Florida.  Dr. Love is an acupuncturist, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, and a Master of Blue Dragon Qigong. I don’t think that he will be able to make his living doing rap….but what he does have to offer here is a way to move that chi around and BREATHE!  Have fun!!

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:

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www.WildlyFreeWoman.com Recent Post: Woman to Woman/Sister to Sistah

Breathing Globally – Join the Dalai Lama

After my neighbors dog took me for a brisk walk along my country road this morning I was acutely aware of how intimately we are connected with all that breathes and is alive.  This weekend we have a unique opportunity to breathe with people all over the globe in synchronicity.  As ElevateUs states, “The tides are turning, in all walks of life and all corners of the planet. Humanity is stepping out of the shadows of ‘what has been’ by calling into question the very fundamentals – how we live, what we serve, who we are.”

Each of us can choose to be a part of this.  When you harmonize with others in a flow of breathing it unites us in a way that is beyond the mind, and connects on levels of the heart and beyond.  Breathing together can powerfully unite us and is an intimate way to deepen the awareness of the interconnection that is always there.  We all share the Earth’s gift of breath.

Let us join with the Dalai Lama this weekend, and with each other every day this year, to elevate the practices of love, compassion, abundance, and joy throughout the world.  The Universal Breathing Room at Do As One has partnered with the Dalai Lama who has called forth 10,000 monks to help initiate the teachings of the Buddha Maitreya.  This is the first time in history that a Dalai Lama has conducted this blessing, intended to elevate love and compassion for all people. Breathe with them at this link: http://www.elevate.us

Take this practice and come to the Universal Breathing Room frequently to simply breathe in flow with others worldwide on a daily basis.  There is a global map where you can see where people in other locations are also joining in, and 3 other “rooms” you can go to – the Full Spectrum Breathing Room, where you can harmonize with the chakra colors as you breathe; a Universal Laughter room; and a Universal Om Room.

Take 5 minutes a day to join in and check in with the energy, feelings, and insights that catch your awareness!
Take a Deep Breath NOW!

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:  www.WildlyFreeWoman.com

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Trees Are The Lungs Of The Earth

“Don’t cut your trees, because the trees are the lungs of the earth. ”
-Milda Sebris , a resident at Ellen Memorial Health Care Center, turned 100 on 1/26/11.

To breathe is to live embodied.  Without this exquisite process going on day after day, year after year, moment after moment we would not be functional – we would not be alive!  Trees help the planet breathe by turning carbon dioxide into clean, pure oxygen. Plants are considered the lungs of the earth because plants produce oxygen, which is necessary for all life, so in essence, since our lungs keep us alive and trees keep our lungs alive we can consider trees to be a part of our lungs existence.  This is all part of the deep interconnectedness of all life.

Our lungs are quite amazing actually.  Did you know that there are about 300 million alveoli in the adult lung. The alveolar sacs consist of many alveoli and are composed of a single layer of epithelial tissue.  If these alveoli were pressed flat and spread out they would take up the space of a football field.  That is, a football field (including the two end zones) is 360 feet long and 160 feet wide for a total of 57,600 square feet!

Alveoli in the Lungs

The alveoli are considered the functional or foundational unit of the lung. In the spaces between the alveoli of the lungs is elastic connective tissue which is important for exhalation.  It is here, surrounded by pulmonary capillaries, that gases are exchanged and we are enlivened with every inhale and exhale that we take.

“Each alveolus is lined with a thin layer of tissue fluid, which is essential for the diffusion of gases, because a gas must dissolve in a liquid in order to enter or leave a cell.  This is called the “earthworm principle”.  An earthworm will breathe through it’s moist skin and suffocate if it’s skin dries out.

The inner walls of the alveoli are covered with a lipid material known as surfactant. This surfactant helps to stabilize the alveoli preventing their collapse.  Absence of surfactant would be similar to a plastic bag that is wet on the inside.  It’s walls would stick together and not allow for complete expansion.”

This biological process goes on moment after moment for the entirety of our lives, yet in order to breathe fully we need the support of the natural world around us.  As this world is tampered with by humans, the planet lets us know we are off balance with global climate change and other dramatic signs of imbalance.  Just as if we tampered with the alveoli of our lungs by unhealthy practices that caused disease and imbalance in our systems.

Our Earth is like the alveoli of the lungs – if she dries out she will suffocate.  Without the stabilization of the natural order of things there will be no expansion, no breath, no life – no Breathing Spaces.

Could it be that we need to pay closer attention to the smallest and most foundational parts of our Earth’s processes, and our own,  before we tackle the larger things?  Take yourself out into Nature this week and breathe.

Sergey Melnikoff – Breathing Nature – Selective Shots
Music by Zaza Marjanishvili, Produced by MediaGrail

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:  www.WildlyFreeWoman.com
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