Welcome to Day 15

Proceed with caution.

Today I get up on my soapbox. Breathwork like many practices can be practised safely or unsafely. We're doing a conscious connected breathwork (CCB) session tomorrow, and there's a reason we've laid the groundwork before diving into this type of breathwork.

I'm a 400-hour+ trained breathwork practitioner, with training in mediation, Somatic Experiencing and nearly two decades of experience in petrochemicals (A billion-dollar facility where things could and occasionally, did, blow up). Transformative breath practice is one of the most powerful things I've encountered.

Let me explain...

Remember that Breath is a Governor. By Merriam-Webster's definition

"gov·​er·​nor ˈgə-vᵊn-ər also ˈgə-vər-nər

1: one that governs: such as a: one that exercises authority, especially over an area or group... b: an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or nominal head of a political unit c: commanding officer d: the managing director and usually the principal officer of an institution or organization...

4a: an attachment to a machine (such as a gasoline engine) for automatic control or limitation of speed b: a device giving automatic control (as of pressure or temperature)..."

Once you understand breath's governing function, the form - while not irrelevant, is in service of what you want to achieve. You can tailor your practice (input) to achieve the outcome.

A well-designed practice, properly and consistently practised, will move you toward your desired outcome.

It's possible to grow your resilience, to expand your window of tolerance without harming yourself. Improvement and growth can be a fruitful creative incremental and meaningful process of mastery.

Sometimes growth doesn't look the way we expect it to - increased capacity, ability to be with what was outside our window of tolerance, an ability to make space in what looks like chaos, an awareness of and willingness to follow our internal compass...can all be signs of growth. Sometimes growth looks kinda messy (think 11:30 PM in many Caribbean Christmas-celebrating households - it seems impossible that the Christmas morning result could be reached, far less in the time frame available...)

Growth is personal and it takes what it takes.

Your Practice for Day 15:

1. Your breath reset - Set a timer for three minutes and breathe. If you need it, mentally repeat "Out I am breathing out, In I am breathing in." (No music, just a timer.)

Just you, breathing.

Keep breathing, learn the breath and learn your body.​
​Breathing With You,
A

P.S. Tomorrow's session is a gentle, safe practice curated for people who have proceeded through this course.

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"When the breath wanders the mind is unsteady, but when the breath is calmed, the mind too will be still." – Hatha Yoga Pradipika