Hello Friends,
Hope you enjoyed reading my last blog “how conscious breathing can transform your mental well-being (part-2). let us try to learn something more subtle to balance our mental well-being. Modern life constantly pulls our attention outward. Notifications, deadlines, responsibilities, and worries can easily disconnect us from ourselves. Yet every breath offers an invitation to return to the present moment. In Part 2, we explored how conscious breathing influences the nervous system, reduces stress, and supports emotional balance. But the true power of breathing extends far beyond moments of relaxation. When practiced consistently, conscious breathing becomes a lifelong tool for cultivating resilience, mental clarity, and inner harmony. Ayurveda teaches that healing often begins with awareness. By becoming aware of your breath, you become aware of your mind. As your breath grows steadier, your thoughts become clearer, your emotions become more balanced, and your inner resilience strengthens. Ayurveda teaches that health is not merely the absence of diseases but it is a state of balance between mind, body, senses and soul. and breath is most effective tool to restore balance. imagine our mind as the surface of a lake, when the wind is strong the water becomes turbulent and unclear and we can not see anything in the lake but when the wind settles , the water becomes calm and we can see clearly underneath of water. our breath works in much the same way. when our breathing is shallow and rapid we can not see our inner self but when we learn to breath slowly with rhythm we can connect with our true self. Till now we learnt breath awareness, then we learnt to focus on the starting and ending point if inhalation and exhalation, then we learnt about being aware of the pause in between the inhalation and exhalation. Today we will learn slight variation of the previous practices. Instead of focussing on the origin of the inbreath and the outbreath, focus on the turning of the breath. As you breathe in, the breath gradually slowing down and becomes more subtler. Then there is a small gap or pause, and then you breathe out. Turning of the breath is the area where the inbreath is ending, there is a gap, and then the outbreath starts. awareness in this practice is larger then previous practices. It incorporates not just the gap between two breaths, but also a little on either side of it – where the in breath is ending and the outbreath is beginning and also where the outbreath is ending and the inbreath is starting. In a complete breathing cycle, the breath turns twice. From inside to outside and again from outside to inside. same as previous practices, we will perform this practice in lotus pose or any seated pose. again we want to remind ourselves that our mind can start to wonder or thoughts may start to pop in, we don’t want to get upset, instead slowly we will bring our attention to our breath. As we know breath is the supreme energy herself. through the Goddess (supreme energy), the true knowledge (knowledge of self) will be realized . The Goddess is breath or Energy. Through Her, or through breath awareness we reach to inner self. When we are still, silent, we can be aware of our inner self. At the center, at the gap between two breaths, we are completely still. We are not even breathing. By being aware of that middle state, that stillness, all thoughts disappear. Because our body is completely still at that time, our mind also becomes still. When our mind becomes still, we align with the universe and it’s source. the center or gap between two breaths is so special. In that state, in that moment, our body is completely still. By focussing our mind on that stillness, our mind also becomes still. In Ayurveda, Prana is not just oxygen or air, Prana is vital energy , subtle life energy which animates every living being. every inhalation nourishes Prana and each exhalation releases physical and mental stress, When Prana flows smoothly, The mind becomes clear and focused, emotions remains balanced, creativity flourishes, sleep becomes more sounder, energy level increasing. This practice can be very helpful in our everyday daily situations, before an important meeting, during emotional conflicts, while working and before sleep. The next time life feels overwhelming, remember that you carry one of nature’s greatest healing tools within you. It requires no equipment, no prescription, and no special place only your attention. One conscious breath may not change your entire life, but it can change your next moment. And a life of greater peace is built one mindful moment at a time. I hope you enjoyed reading this article, keep reminding yourself about this best tool you always carry with you to enhance your overall wellbeing. see you next time with a more subtle subject to learn, till then be aware of your breath.