Abiding Wealth: Breath and Awareness-The link that awakens

One of the things we take for granted is our breath. It happens without us paying attention, from the moment we are born till the moment we die. We don't have to do anything for our breath to happen. We only notice our breath when it becomes challenging-when we have a cold, when we exert ourselves physically and are panting, or when we have an asthma attach and cannot breathe.

Our breath touches into our belly, also known as our "third brain" in some traditions. The first brain is our thinking mind. The second is our heart, and the third is our gut. These three brains are inner resources that provide wisdom through our bodies. Our breath supports us in accessing our feelings and other inner resources.


Stress can cause a desire to protect and consequently, disconnection

We hold our breath, or make it shallow, when we are stressed. This serves us by keeping our feelings at bay so that we can escape threats from our environment. Making our breath shallow, it comes in though our nostrils and goes down to our rib cage. It does not reach into our gut which is where we store our feelings. Think of the phrases " have a gut feeling" or "my gut tells me." or "I'm sick to my stomach". 

If we are holding our breath a few things happen in the body. First, our shallow breath allows us to avoid the feelings we are holding in our gut. Second, shallow breathing protects us from being noticed, which in hunter and gatherer days would mean we were safer from tigers and other predators. Third, shallow breathing keeps us ready to run and in fight or flight mode, making a successful escape more likely (the psoas muscle, which supports us in running away from predators, attaches to the next-to-the-last rib and keeps our rib cage from expanding fully).

Relaxation gives access to information otherwise inaccessible

Relaxation supports connection to inner resources

During massage and bodywork sessions, I support clients in releasing their diaphrams and psoas muscles. These releases allows them to breathe more easily, which reduces their experience of stress. It also supports them in having access to their gut feelings and the knowledge that is stored there. These releases support the client in moving from "fight or flight" mode into thrive mode.

Releasing muscles and allowing breath to move more freely supports us in becoming aware of what we have taken for granted. It helps us notice and pay attention to other things in our lives that we have not noticed too. This awareness provides access to inner and outer resources that we have not been aware of. Having access to more resources empowers us.

Relaxing supports your health and inner wealth.  Can you feel it?

Self-care for breath, connection, and access to inner resources  

Doing releases for your psoas and diaphragm can help you shift from feeling poor to feeling rich. To release the psoas muscle, kneel on your right knee. Extend your left foot out in front of you with your knee bent at a 90 degree angle. Now move your left foot further away from your body (you want to keep your foot further away than your knee) and then allow your left knee to move towards your foot, as far forward as possible. Now, keep your torso upright and allow your pelvis to move towards the ground. Continue to let your pelvis drop for 45 seconds. If your technique is effective, you will feel it stretching only where the top of your thigh meets your pelvis. Switch sides and repeat.

To release your diaphragm, fill your lungs to capacity and hold your breath. Push (or have someone else push) at the base of your rib cage, in the middle, at the lowest end of your sternum/breast bone. Push from the inside out, making the hand that is pushing down rise and working the muscle with your breath pushing out towards the hand. Repeat after you catch your breath.

Please let me know how these releases work for you. Is it easier to breathe after doing these stretches? Do you notice any differences in your lower back as a result of doing these releases? Do you feel less stressed? Does the increased awareness of your breath support you in noticing other resources you had been taking for granted? I'd appreciate hearing your comments below.