Communication with my Soul

What is the breath? Beyond the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen and all the technical stuff about the breath I've been taught in science class, what is the breath?

With this body, I took my first breath shortly after being born. I came out with my umbilical cord wrapped around my neck three times. My dad held his breath until I took my first breath. My mom said he almost passed out! When I take my last breath - it will be the end of this magical carpet ride with this physical body. For years, I barely paid attention to my breath. It grabs my attention when I laugh so hard its difficult to catch. Or those times when I've cried so long and hard that my breath comes in two or three mini inhales and out with a sigh. (You know the one...). During a jog or a good work out my breath becomes apparent. When I was working a desk job, I would be sitting in complete concentration focused on my computer, working so heavily in my head and all of a sudden realize that I was holding my breath! I would take a huge gasp and think, "Wow! How am I still living?!?!" In Peru hiking at high altitudes - I couldn't believe how quickly I was out of breath! The sights themselves were enough to take my breath away!

Understanding my breath has never been a task I have taken on until beginning the practice of yoga. Nor did I realize that it's something I would even be interested in. To be perfectly honest, it has been something I have taken for granted.

In Donna Fahri's Book "The Breathing Book" she talks about how in other languages, the word for breath has much more meaning. "In Greek, psyche pneuma, meant breath / soul / air / spirit. In Latin, anima spiritus, breath / soul. In Japanese, ki, air / spirit; and in Sanskrit, prana connoted a resonate life force that is at no time more apparent to us than when that force is extinguished at the moment of death."

The definition of yoga at its most basic form is to unite body, mind and spirit. With this in mind, I start my practice. Seated. Tuning in to my breath. Every time. Think about this. If breath is synonymous with spirit or soul - at the start of every practice I tune into my spirit, my soul. As do the vast majority of yogi's out there. To tune in without judgement or an attempt to change anything - simply observe my breath - I listen to my soul. What is it saying?

After a few moments of pure awareness of my breath (soul), I summon my breath forth. Welcome it deeper into my body, lengthening my inhalations and exhalations. I summon forth my soul. To do this I must engage my mind. Before I have even started moving - the practice of yoga begins. Eliciting my breath (Soul) deep into my body by means of my mind.

Using the English definition of breath - I failed to see this connection of breath with spirit. Drawing upon the wisdom of other languages has deepened my practice even further. Now everyday when I take time to sit and observe my breath - I listen more attentively. I notice how it is moving through my body, the length and the ease with which it flows with new meaning.

My soul talks to me and I listen.

No wonder yoga has such a focus on breath!

Why not take 5 minutes out of each of your days to communicate with your Soul?