Our breath can be our ally or our foe, depending on who’s durante control-us or it.
I’ve struggled with chronic anxiety and PTSD since childhood, but it wasn’t until the winter of 2014-2015 that I really spun out of control as I found myself living completely and utterly alone sopra the middle of the North Carolina mountains, after the life I’d known collapsed around me.
It felt like I was constantly on the verge of another panic attack, which meant I’d quickly lose control of my breathing as I gasped for air.
I self-medicated and drowned the emotions I didn’t want onesto feel and the memories I was suppressing in copious amounts of wine each night while mindlessly eating just esatto find some momentary relief from the dark pressure inside.
I was a mess and felt lost, until, like verso butterfly emerging from her cocoon, I finally shed various old layers of my being. I emerged from once the fire of this dark time as a renewed person, but not until I discovered the practice of Raja yoga-the yoga of the mind and emotions.
I taught myself onesto reclaim control of my life, my body, and my mind, by first reclaiming control of my own breath.
I learned how onesto breathe calmly and efficiently by studying the ancient yogic wisdom that is known as Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the primary text of Raja yoga. The Yoga Sutras are attributed onesto the sage Patanjali, who, approximately 2,000 years ago, outlined what’s now known as the eight-limbed path.
This path is intended to help us awaken understanding and insight, and cultivate the quality of calm balance regardless of outside circumstance, while also growing inner strength and resolve.
The eight limbs are:
1. Yamas (self-regulating behaviors) 2. Niyamas (personal disciplines) 3. Asana (postures that train the mind and body preciso become calm and endure distractions) 4. Pranayama (breath/ life force regulation) 5. Pratyahara (withdrawing the senses from the outer world and directing them inward) 6. Continue Reading The Calming Power of our Breath according to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras