Before yoga, I don’t think I’d ever truly taken a complete breath.

A fully present inhale and a mindful exhale.

I recall the very first time I was instructed on the art of a complete breath. It was at a yoga studio just outside of Toronto ON.

I remember the feeling of drawing that first inhale deep into my belly and then feeling it rise through my ribs to the top of my chest like the crescendo of a wave. I recall the slow release of my exhale and the sensation of my body softening, and releasing a little more weighted, a little more relaxed to the earth. My attention followed my breath into pockets of my body I’d never breathed into before… it was spacious and satisfying.

For an hour I moved my body through many yoga postures but was encouraged to focus less on the shapes I was in and more on the simplicity of a complete mindful breath. Slowly, I could feel my mind settling and my body unfolding. I felt as if I was on the road to uncovering something really special, one breath at a time.

For an hour I existed with my breath and attention to my body and the present moment as the instructor continually encouraged me to shift my attention to the quality and rhythm of my breath, to notice and feel sensations in my body, to notice where the top of my inhale reached and where the bottom of my exhale landed. I began to understand the concept of ‘presence’… the art landing in by body with breath and movement and letting go of everything external to the physical experience in that moment. Through the process of breathing, moving and feeling, My focus was shifted internally instead of the constant external buzz of to-do lists, texts, and appointments.

The instructor intuitively knew exactly when to offer a gentle reminder to resist defaulting into my habitual shallow breath and how to redirect my thoughts back to the rhythm of the breath. Each inhale was an opportunity to receive prana, life force, oxygen… each exhale was an opportunity to let go of clutter and excess.

• It was a practice.
• It was as simple as breathing in and breathing out. There were moments where I was pushed outside my comfort zone of patience and focus.
• It was as simple as receiving and releasing.
• It was practice.

I was challenged to find a sense of freedom that wasn’t dependent on anything exterior to my physical experience. It wasn’t about flexibility or strength, those were side benefits… 

It was about choosing depth of breath one moment at a time over a shallow existence. I learned that a single intentional and mindful breath is like a meditation.

At the end of the class, I landed with a sense of better than before. I landed with a little more space. The things that were so important before were less important after. There was a shift in my mind and body.

I had learned for the first time in my life a new way to create space for something better, for something new. I understood that the practice of yoga wasn’t so much about how far you are in each posture, it was about how you existed in each shape, one breath at a time.

We are all worthy of taking time for ourselves. As a yogi instructor and wellness coach, now well into 10 years of teaching and practice experience. I teach my students to find this same experience.

Take 5 minutes out of your day, sit down in a comfortable spot and take 10 full inhales through the nose

Take 10 full exhales through the nose. Weave these words through your breath

I give up freely what is no longer serving me. (Inhale deeply)

I release it to create space for what inspires me. (Exhale deeply)

Be inspired, be well, be light! 

I can’t wait to see you soon!

Rachel Senko