Sutra 1.34: Focus on the Breath
Sutra 1.34: Pracchardana-Vidharanabhyam-Va-Pranasya
Focus on the breath to calm the mind
In Sutra 1.34 Patanjali presents us with yet another method to regulate and rewire the mind and that is with the breath. The breath has been a verbal prescription as old as time used for when one is in discomfort or pain. “Just breathe, take some deep breaths, slow down your breath.” We know this, we tell others to do this, but how often do we take the time to do it consciously for ourselves? For me personally, to make a change or attempt at implementing new practices into my day, I must connect deeply to the why behind it and believe in the impact it will have on increasing my happy.
On average we take about 20,000 breaths in one day. If we do not breathe, we die. So we could say that our breath equals our aliveness and our aliveness could also be called our Prana. Perhaps there is more to Prana, but certainly the breath is part of it. I often equate my aliveness to my presence, my smile, my connection with other humans, with nature or source, and with whatever I am creating with my hands, but rarely do I stop and choose to get to know my breath intimately as part of my aliveness. Do you know how you breathe? From your chest or your belly or both? Through your nose, through your mouth, or both? What about your inhalations and exhalations and the intersections in between? What about when you are sad or frustrated or excited?
How insane that I am with myself all day everyday, and I know so little about the very thing that is keeping me alive to experience another sunset, or another kiss, or another chance to do whatever it is that we cherish. The breath is like a portal into you, so when we are guided to, “go within,” and we don’t know what the hell that means or how to even begin, here’s our gateway.
Your breath is coming from inside of you and meeting with external world 20,000 times today, so we have 20, 000 opportunities to meet with ourself today. Perhaps if we make it a priority to show up to just a few of those appointments we will get to know our aliveness beyond our pro-nouns, our political parties, and our pasts.
Every single breath is a union, of you, with life, and with the love that resides within you.
Muchas Gracias mi Amigos,
As always, my gratitude for you and your interest in the sutras is simply a given. I appreciate your attention and your contemplation to all that is the vast world of yoga philosophy. May this interpretation serve you as inspiration to meet yourself where you are and then to be-friend yourself on an even deeper level.
Blessings and love and namaste to you,
Andrea Dawn
