The other day I just lost it. I seriously became so overwhelmed with the volume of work that needed done between the seva of studio ownership, the rewards of home ownership, the thrill of pet ownership, and of course the “bestest” job ever of being a mom and schlepping kids to and fro and to and fro and to and fro, that I just lost it.
It was weird. I didn’t lose it in the classical sense. I just froze at the top of the stairs and my brain did some weird buzzing ball like thing. In my freeze I realized I hadn’t taken a breath for at least 15 minutes and that my skin was probably turning blue. The breath prior to that had been quick and shallow.
I’m a huge advocate that you can breathe through anything. Heck, if you can breathe through labor pains, then you can certainly breathe through laundry, carpools, cat litter, and stocking inventory. It is interesting to know that most humans breathe about 9 – 20 breaths per minute. Even more interesting is that you can train yourself to take deeper, slower, and richer breaths and get that down to as low as 3 breaths per minute. Many yogis associate the number of breaths per minute with longevity.
Your breath is really what is keeping you sane.
So, at the top of the steps I turned to look into my meditation room and that is where I headed. I poured through my new Kundalini books and found the Sunia Antar Kriya. It’s so simple and sweet. Basically, you drink a glass of water (dehydration makes you stressed too), sit comfy, place your hands under your armpits, pull the shoulders up to the ears, lock the neck, close your eyes, and focus on slowing the breath. It feels so good. It’s like giving yourself a hug, an affirmation, and the love that gushes from the water nourishing your blood.
Yogi Bhajan, the Master of Kundalini Yoga, said that the most powerful thing you can teach a person to do is breathe. This Kriya does that in the most hectic moments. Click through the Link below.
*The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.