No One's Going to Die Here Today, So Breath

I never really learned how to breath until I became a regular at my friend Lissy's yoga classes. She teaches yoga for climbers, skiers, bikers, core, and well no matter what class it is she'll kick your butt! One day, in a particularly hard skiers class, made significantly harder than usual because it had been dumping all weekend and of course we had all skied like mad and had tight legs and backs to show for it, Lissy said something along the lines of: 'no one's going to die here tonight, so breath....just suck it up and breath'. Lissy's never one to sugar coat it, but when you're in pigeon after frying your hip for the last 30 minutes (or so it feels) focusing the mind only on the breath, and not getting up kicking and screaming like a spoiled child, can be quite challenging.

But I took Lissy's comment to heart; no one is going to die today, so breath. Honestly have you ever seen someone struggling to stay in a deep forearm lunge just fall over and die? Joking aside this idea struck me deep and it changed my practice. Now I go to class and even when my IT bands are so tight you could strum them like a guitar, no matter how much my body screams, all I have to do is breath more. Inhale a little deeper to create space and exhale a little stronger to hug into center. It's amazing how the simple act of focusing on the breath can keep you present and in your body during the most hot and sweaty internal struggle fest that some yoga classes present.

When focusing on the breath in intense poses you should note the following: yes, you will feel your body and the deep sensations, but no you won't care because you're not allowing your mind to focus on anything other than breathing.

So how can we bring this lesson off the mat and into the world? No matter what the world throws your way, how can you use your warrior within to help you realize that no one it going to die here today? Just breath.