Reconnecting with nature through breath

The Pulse of Life
Life moves in rhythms. From the turning of the seasons to the beating of our hearts, everything flows through cycles of activity and rest, growth and dormancy. As we approach the winter solstice — a time when nature slows down, retreats, and rests — it’s a perfect moment to pay attention to how our own rhythms are intertwined with the world around us. In this sacred time of stillness, we’re reminded of the deep connection between our inner cycles and the greater pulse of life.

The Universal Rhythm: Life is Movement
Everything in nature pulses with life—an ongoing dance of movement and stillness. We, like everything around us, thrive on cycles of rest and activity. As we move through the rhythms of our days, we too need times to pause, to restore, and to simply be. This need for balance is not just a human experience; it is the pulse of the entire living world. As winter calls for rest, we can consider how to honor this need for our own well-being.

Breath is Life’s Rhythm
The most intimate and powerful rhythm we carry with us is the breath. In yoga, we learn that breath is much more than air moving in and out of the lungs. Breath is the rhythm of life itself. Every inhale is a gift — our personal connection to the life force that flows through everything. With each inhalation we are fed; we receive. Every exhalation is a return — a release — an offering back to the greater whole.

How Breath Shapes Our Body and Mind
The body and mind are inextricably linked through the breath. When the mind is anxious or agitated, our breath follows suit. Breathing may become shallow, uneven, and quick. However, when we bring awareness to the breath, we can shift this pattern. Deep, steady breathing can calm the nervous system, lower stress levels, and create a spaciousness in the mind. It’s a subtle yet powerful way to reset our state of being, returning us to a place of balance and clarity.

The Power of Pranayama: Tuning Into Our Inner Rhythms
Pranayama, the ancient practice of directing and controlling our breathing processes, offers powerful tools for reconnecting with our inner rhythms.

Prana is the breath of life itself, the animating principle that supports everything that is alive. It is the breath within the breath, the essence of all that is alive.
Where there is life there is prana, and where there is no life there is no prana.
Yama here refers to our ability to gain control over how prana flows within our individual body-mind systems.

Through pranayama we can influence how our personal prana flows. Through judicious and wise practices we learn to calm the mind and soothe the body. In times of stress or imbalance, pranayama provides a simple, effective way to realign ourselves with the natural flow of life. Through skillful practice we can soothe the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and cultivate a sense of calm presence. Pranayama provides us with wise means for self soothing.

Simple Pranayama Practices to Connect with Your Breath
You don’t need years of yoga training to begin working with your breath. A few simple pranayama practices can help you reconnect with your natural rhythms. Here are two techniques to get you started.

Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
This technique calms the mind and helps balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain. It also creates harmony between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

—Sit comfortably and begin by breathing naturally.

—Close your left nostril with your right ring finger and inhale through the right nostril.

—Close the right nostril with your right thumb and exhale through the left.

—Inhale through the left nostril.

—Close the left nostril and exhale through the right.

—Continue alternating nostrils for a few minutes.

You may feel a sense of calm and balance after just a few rounds. If the technique doesn’t feel easy at first, remember, it doesn’t need to be perfect. Make it easy.

Ujjayi Breathing (Victorious Breath)
This soothing, yet enlivening breath creates a soft ocean-like sound as you breathe in and out through your nose. It is calming and energizing at the same time.

—Breathe deeply and deliberately, allowing the breath to move slowly through the nasal pathways.

—Listen for a soft whispering sound as you inhale and exhale.

—For calming the body and mind, extend the exhale longer than the inhale.

—For an energizing effect, balance the length of your inhalations and exhalations.

Embracing the Rhythm of Life
As we move through the busy, often chaotic rhythms of life, it’s easy to forget the simple, powerful act of breathing. Yet, by returning to the breath, we return to the essence of life itself. We find our own inner pulse and reconnect with the natural rhythms of the world.

Whether we’re facing the challenges of busy days, difficult times, or simply seeking stillness, breath is always there—offering us a chance to reset, to restore, and to renew. By honoring the breath, we honor the pulse of life that moves through us all.