Full awareness of our breath teaches us how to transform our fear, despair, and anger. It teaches us to enjoy the present moment and look deeply into our lives.
Thich Nhat Han writes that full awareness of the breath is a way to help us remember how to breath and to enjoy our breath. Breathing slowly and mindfully teaches us to enjoy your breath. He also explains how suffering is a way to cultivate understanding and compassion. Without them, there can be no happiness.
“For those of us who enjoy breathing in and out, this is already the practice of peace and happiness. Peace and happiness are already there inside of you and around you.”
Tich Nhat Han, Breath you are alive
He wrote small practice poems (Gathas) to remind us of this. Although his teachings come from Buddhism, these practice poems can help anyone to awake to the full awareness of the breath and enjoy your breathing.
While you practice sitting, you enjoy sitting. While you practice breathing, you enjoy the breathing. And if you are able to enjoy yourself, then healing and transformation will take place.
Tich Nhat Han, Breath you are alive
To practice, you should seat in quiet place holding your body quite straight and repeat the gatha in your mind or aloud. Here are some of my favorite ones:
Breathing in, I know I am breathing in.
Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.Breathing in, I am aware of my whole body.
Breathing out, I am aware of my whole body.Breathing in, I calm my whole body.
Breathing out, I calm my whole body.Breathing in, I calm my mental formations.
Breathing out, I calm my mental formations.
I invite you to choose one of the following that resonates with you and incorporate into your practice to start enjoying your breath!
The following video shows you a breathing practice that I recently published which can help help you settling in your seating posture with a few breathing exercises.
Let me know how it goes!