How Breath Connects You With All of Life

We are never alone. Each breath we breathe is in harmony with a breathing planet that supports us. The trees exchange breath with the atmosphere each day and night, and the land breathes through them from one season to the next. The Earth in turn is in unity with a universe which breathes on a yet more vast and profound time scale as stars coalesce, burn, contract, and explode, and atoms spin, merge and reform. It is as if everything that exists is part of the same body, eternally flowing between within and without. The pumping of our hearts and the shifts in our tissues are in sync with the ebb and flow of ocean waves. The synapses in our brains that go off and on to create thoughts are like the sparkles in the stars that light up the night sky, or the auric field that shimmers to make a tree or a flower look vibrant. We are literally one with all that is.

Everything we think, feel, say or do is a part of a greater whole. No one is an island. We are vastly, wisely and compassionately interconnected to a far greater consciousness than that of our limited ego or will. In this way, our thoughts, words and actions both reflect and affect the evolution of our growing, changing and alive universe.

Spirituality points to the truth that we are all connected to, and inherently interwoven within, something beyond our individual physical form. Yet too often, we inadvertently cut ourselves off from the reality of the whole. In this, it is as though we hold our breath, which makes our heart pound, and is not sustainable. Similarly, when we disconnect from our nature and act in ignorance, we become agitated and so does Nature. We disrupt the natural flow of ecological balance.

Remembering this, we live with greater awareness and responsibility, while receiving the vitality that comes from being tapped into a collective whole that is so much bigger than the limited ego. Every action is part of that whole. There really is no starting and stopping or beginning and ending. We exist within one flowing continuum. Our place in this universe is perfect, precise, and interwoven into a fabric of existence that extends beyond our perception of a finite self.

In the rush of life, we can easily forget to breathe mindfully. A relaxed breath flows effortlessly in and out, like the ebb and flow of ocean waves. It helps our whole body relax. And when we are relaxed, we enjoy more and experience life more fully. Yoga and meditation open our field of awareness, helping us to receive and skilfully act upon life’s many opportunities.

At any given time today, tune into the rhythm of your breath and feel how it is flowing. If you find yourself holding, take a few deep breaths. If you find yourself breathing comfortably, enjoy. Becoming aware of the life-force energy within your breath will help you let go of agitation, and rest into a field of profound unity with all that is. This unity is the true path to health, happiness and wholeness.

Parvati is an award-winning musician (“I Am Light”, “Electro Yog”, “Yoga In The Nightclub”), yogini (YEM: Yoga as Energy Medicine), author (“The Grace Mindset”, “Aonani of Avalon”, “The Three Supreme Secrets for Lasting Happiness”) and founder and CEO of the nonprofit Parvati.org. All her work is dedicated to protecting all life on Earth by establishing the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary (MAPS). More info: parvati.tvparvati.org.