Mastor Breath
Life begins with breath.
Our story begins with breath.
Our day begins with breath.
Our out-breath is the in-breath of all life.
Our in-breath is the out-breath of all life.
Breath is repeating. Life is repeating. Breath is life.
Mastery of breath is mastery of life.
Life begins with breath. The first action we take on this planet is to breathe in. The second action we take is to breathe out. Yin and Yang, life and death. When we are in command of our breath, we are in command of our lives. If you want to be in command of your life, you must first be in command of your breath.
Every morning I wake up I breathe in. I sit up as I breathe out. I move my feet to touch the ground as I breathe in. When I stand up, I breathe out.
I breathe intentionally. I move intentionally. This simple practice makes it possible for me to be present. When I breathe, I cultivate a state of awareness. When I am aware, I have the power to witness and manipulate my own thoughts. Powerful thoughts create powerful realities.
My story about the power of breath begins in 1973, long before I took my first breath. The law of attraction guided my parents to The Integral Yoga Health Institute in Manhattan where they were introduced to a holistic lifestyle rooted in intentional breathing.
Intentional breathing rapidly transformed their state of mind. It opened them up to new possibilities of what life could be. My father, for instance, realized he had the desire and capacity to be an entrepreneur.
My mother discovered her passion for health & wellness. Together they envisioned and co-created a lifestyle entirely different from the ways they had been raised. By the time my sisters and I came into the world, they were adhering to a strict vegan diet and actively participating in the creation of “one of the first Pan-African spiritual organizations dedicated to providing Afrocentric based spiritual training to people of African descent” emerging in the United States. Our participation in the building of this organization served to deepen and solidify our commitment to intentional breathing.
While the neighborhood I grew up in was a challenging place to live in the 80’s and 90’s, my house was a place of color and consciousness. Intentional breathing made all the difference. With every intentional breath we took, we developed our prana or chi, also known as “life-force”. This life-force gave my parents the strength to make life-changing decisions in the face of ridicule and judgment from their loved ones. At the same time, it gave my sisters and I a deep sense of personal power. We knew in the pit of our bellies that we could do anything we intended to.
This is not to say that my journey with intentional breathing has been easy or idyllic. I was not a cooperative or patient child. In an attempt to bolster my physical, mental, and spiritual fortitude, my parents put me in Tae Kwon Do classes at my grandfather’s dojo. Breathing was at the core of every activity but all I wanted to do was break blocks and fight people. My grandfather tried tirelessly to show me how breathing intentionally would help me become a more focused martial artist but I was fiercely impatient. I wanted to get straight to the action! My inability to connect to my breath eventually became my downfall as a burgeoning martial artist. When I was 12 years old, I failed to break through the blocks because I did not practice commanding my breath. It took me a long time to realize and accept this failure. Now I use this memory to fuel my practice.
When I say that intentional breathing is a practice I mean that intentional breathing is something we do until we die. It does not guarantee a life without obstacles. But it can save our lives. Forty years after he walked into his first class on intentional breathing, my father had a stroke that left him paralyzed. I believe that his intentional breathing practice was the largest contributing factor to his survival as well as his subsequent rehabilitation.
For my father, intentional breathing has become intimately intertwined with his ability to move at all. As his son and student, I’ve learned that movement is much more than the physical manipulation of our limbs. Being able to move is truly a state of mind. When it is difficult to move, it is difficult to think freely. If you feel stuck in your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual environment, intentional breathing will empower you to move past your blocks.
Intentional breathing is a powerful path to presence. The more you practice, the more present you become. When you are present, there is no stopping you. There is no limitation. There is only you, your awareness, and your desire. You can start breathing intentionally right now. Take three deep breaths into and out of your belly. Take three more. Stay with your breath. Now you are meditating. Now you are in command.
Key Learnings:
- Intentional breath command enhances your ability to perform mental achievements.
- Intentional breath command enhances your ability to perform physical achievements.
Mantras for breathing:
“Inhale the present, exhale the past, move forward.” — Daouda G.S.S.A.Q.S
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” — Amit Ray
Resources for breathing with intention:
Mastor Breathing: Notes from a class I taught on intentional breathing
The Importance of Breathing Correctly for Health
How to Fight Stress with Intentional Breathing
Breathe+ Simple Breath Trainer
B.K.S. Iyengar, Light On Prānāyāma: The Yogic Art of Breathing
THIS DOCUMENT IS WET CLAY. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED PLEASE CONSIDER THIS A WORK IN PROCESS.
