The breath is our life, our life energy, called prana in yoga. The breath enables us to live. Without the breath, we would not exist in a few minutes. Breath is a natural part of ourselves. The most of our live we breath autonomously and we are rarely aware of our breathing. When we sit on a yoga mat and allow ourselves to stop for a moment that we get the opportunity to become aware of the breath. We begin to notice it, where exactly it manifests in the body; we recognize whether it is deep or shallow. With the observation of the breath, the journey into our inner world begins.
Mastering the breath is very important for personal relaxation and meditation practice. The breath helps us to hold our attention here and now, in the present moment. It is also a great tool because it is available to us whenever we think of it. If we are still breathing, it means we are alive and can create our life story. Being aware and observing the breath helps us to become more grounded and just be and live mindfully. When we are paralyzed by fear or anxiety of the unknown, conscious breathing also can help us.
When we are diving, being aware of the breath is perhaps a bit easier. Suddenly we are breathing in and out through our mouths from the device that is the source of our energy and life in that moment. Underwater, we hear the echo of our own breath, we perceive its length and depth. Quite often we find that breathing through our mouths is more challenging and we don’t breathe as easily as we do on land. Taking smooth, deep breaths in and out through the mouth allows us to explore the world underwater. The inhalations and exhalations in the meditation practice we practice on land allow us to discover the world within us.
Both worlds are colourful, full of beautiful and breath-taking moments. But both worlds also have dark and unexplored corners that can frighten us. However, it is important not to be afraid to dive into places we would never venture into on our own. Because we are not alone. In meditation practice, we have our greatest inner teacher on our side and our breath at hand. When we are diving, we have a dive buddy and a giant oxygen bomb with us. There is nothing to be afraid of. Just take the first step onto the mat or step out of the boat and let yourself be carried on the waves of your inhalation and exhalation.