The breath cycles in four phases. The first phase is the exhale as we “empty the pot.” The second is phase observes the lower apnea, the nadir of the breath cycle. When you can exhale no more, “the pot is empty.” When the pot is empty, then it can fill with the inhale. The inhale is the third phase. Let the pot fill until it holds no more. That delivers the fourth phase — the upper apnea called “the full pot.” To place your attention on the present moment in each passing phase of the breath cycle is to access your nervous system. The real benefit of breathing practice lies beyond the mechanics and the lung capacity.
To practice the conscious breath in 3 planes of spinal movement, in waking the joints and the lymphatic system gives you access to your life force. Breathe on! 😆
What is needed for hand balances? How do they build? How do we enter and exit? Where is shtira?
Beginning again means asking familiar questions and looking for the answers in the posture, observing what doesn’t work, and what does. Learning twice, and twice again in Beginners Mind.
I recorded this last night because I must be on the road during our usual time. Here we observe three planes of functional spinal movement with breath. I invite you to recall warm-ups of this past week and to practice from whatever you can recall. If you cannot recall, then reboot yr favorite livestream recording and use that.
This week marks the start of a new endeavor at the SAMURAI INTI Martial Arts Studio in Frisco. I’ll be teaching i a group class there at Sendai Sebastian Mejias ‘ dojo on Monday and Wednesday mornings.
Although not a true morning wake up, the song remains the same.
Today’s practice is my first intentional movements with breath. Three planes, lymphatics, joints. That’s the way we address the experience written in our bodies like physical graffiti. Through our intentional breath and movement we recognize our state of being dazed and confused. We can move with grace through good times bad times. We awaken our bodies like houses of the holy. Not to say that our practice is a stairway to heaven, but we cannot hope to get clear and strong if we try to sneak in through the out door.
You don’t need to go down to the seaside, or over the hills and far away, or even to california. Practice wherever you are in the light.
And after practice? It’s a celebration day. Eat a Tangerine, I will listen LOUD to a British rock n roll band who made their fortune in the U.S. of A. I will boogie with Stu and my black dog. These are dancing days. Led Zep is dead, long live Led Zep....