Yoga Breathing and Stress

Eric spent many years living as a monk in a Zen monastery.  In his first year he underwent a tremendously painful and emotional time.  Completely overwhelmed by the intensity of his feelings he sought out the guidance of before head abbot.  As he sat before the abbot he explained his dilemma and with great hope waited for the abbot to advise him as to how he might alleviate his suffering.  The abbot answered simply : "If you can breathe in...you can breathe out."

Comments

[Lightf]

I like this tory. Stillness or "finding the gap" between breathes is the next step. Find the stillness that lies between breathes. Focus on it. -lightf www.theashramyoga.com

[Beryl Whiting]

You are right. Thank you for your thoughts. I encourage my students to be the 'observer' and watch how the body takes a little break before the in breath appears and the same just before the out breath occurs. I believe that this little break is a lesson to us to take little breaks between our other activities and let life be a little slower. Would you agree?

I also point notice that it would be wonderful if we could just trust that the Universe would provide everything we need, just as we trust that the next breath will always be there.