So, you pop out of the womb at birth, and the first priority of your life is to take that all-important first breath. Then, for the next 80 plus years (if you’re lucky), you pretty much take breathing for granted. Our ability to breathe goes on auto-pilot, and we don’t think about it much until we start gasping for air after walking up a huge flight of stairs, see an incredibly gorgeous person who takes our breath away (I love that feeling), or—gasp!—have to speak in front of an audience. I have to admit (because this is a week of confessions) that I have always been guilty of ignoring my breath.
When I started practicing yoga, I knew that breathing was an important part of the practice. I always figured that the concentrated deep breathing for over an hour had to be responsible for the awesome way I felt after class. It wasn’t until this past year that I got totally turned on to the amazing benefits that can come through a regular practice of breathing. Exercises for breathing and, in particular, breath meditation have helped me reduce stress, gain mental alertness, heal areas of pain throughout my body, and can even get me high. Breathing has so inspired me that I decided to create my very own breathing theme song (well, it’s more of a song parody sung to the tune of “I’m a Believer”). Spoiler alert: This is going to be cheesy…but fun!
I’m a Breath Believer
I thought breath was something we did just to stay alive
Meant for keeping blood pumping through my veins
Breath has always done its job
That’s the way it is
I never knew it could bring me so much more!
Then I started to breathe and meditate, and now I’m a believer
Not a trace of stress in my bones
I’m in love, I’m a breath believer!
I couldn’t do my asanas without her if I tried.
I thought breath was more or less a given thing
Seems the more I focus on it, the more I get
It’s keeping me grounded
Gives me a natural high
It brings relief to all my aches and pains.
Then I started to breathe and meditate; now I’m a believer
Not a trace of stress in my bones
I’m in love, I’m a breath believer!
I couldn’t do my asanas without her if I tried.
I have to give a shout-out to the genius of Neil Diamond, who wrote the song, “I’m a Believer,” that went on to become an international hit for The Monkees and has been covered by bands like Smash Mouth and Eddie Murphy to name a few.
The confessional booth is still open. Are you a breath believer? Let me know when you started to fall in love with your breathing.
Breathe is important — it comes before asana. Such an important thing to remember for ourselves and our students.
Me Me Me! I’m a believer!
Maria, you are too funny girl, love your song!
I’m always working on my breath. I know I still am not breathing as deeply as I should be while practicing. Confession! We learned so many great exercises in YTT that I need to do more of on my own! But I definitely am a believer, yes!
Breath Believer,
Yes; yesterday I was so grateful for my yoga practice and meditation practice, chanting, especially breath it got me thru an MRI that I had no idea would inflict such stress upon me, for those that have had the experience of that loud pounding noise and no movement allowed for 20 min. know what I mean; without my focus on breathing I would have been pressing that help button she gave before she left to start up the machine; I am definitely a Breath Believer, I use it to comfort and bring me peace in so many situations; prana is life force and it’s connection is profound.
Om Shanti,
ps love your blog, look forward to it always
Love, love, love your rendition of the Monkeys hit. I adored Davy Jones, so sad.
BTW I shared the poem you posted yesterday in my Gentle yoga class and they loved it.
Thanks for sharing your honest words about prana.