Breathing

Breathing is the key. Key to what? Key to good health in the body and mind. Why? Breathing gives life through oxygen. Is this obvious? It should be, but we still need reminders. Not everyone breaths the same air or in the same way.

When my husband and I recently travelled to Iceland we noted how well we felt by the second day of being there. Iceland has no pollution. The air is clean and fresh. It was noteworthy how good we felt from just breathing good air.

Breathing is exaggerated in Hatha yoga. Practitioners purposefully inhale in a controlled fashion to bring oxygen into all parts of the lungs and internal organs. The exhalation is just as important. Toxins are removed.

I first took yoga classes in 1970 and learned life-long benefits to controlled breathing. Then I attended MMM (Margaret Morris Method) classes and was impressed to learn that all the movements are done with awareness to breathing. In Margaret Morris’s time the east had a great influence. Many in the forefront of change like Raymond Duncan embraced the eastern philosophy of paying attention to breathing. In 1909 Margaret met Raymond who influenced her with this revolutionary thinking.

All Basic Exercises in MMM are set to music and specify how to breath. The same approach is given to every exercise throughout the colour levels. I am currently studying Mauve and the first exercise begins, “Expiration 3 beats,” followed by, “Inspiration 3 beats.” In other words, take up the starting position and breath in before the music begins. A good approach to each lesson. I can still hear my teacher in class every Wednesday night at the Swansea Centre in Toronto saying mid-exercise, “Are you breathing?”