It was World Mental Health Awareness Day yesterday. It's great that mental health is being talked about much more. We can all go through periods where things are tough, feel down, or have to make difficult choices. For some this experience is much more difficult than others.
In the Yoga tradition signs of ill health both physically and mentally were, and are, associated with a lack or depleted life force. This life force is a 'subtle' energy running through our body through 1000's of channels, a bit like electricity.
In Indian philosophy, the body's vital “airs,” or energies are known as Prana. In one of the most ancient references to yoga, the Upanishads, Prana was held to be the principle of vitality. There is Prana in every living thing.
Similarly in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Martial Arts the idea of a vital life force energy and its role in our health is known as Chi. The concept of Chi (also spelt Qi) is recognised as a 'Life Force'.
In Yoga, Pranayama is about breath. More specifically about taking 'IN' breath or INHALE. Whereas, Apana is about the 'OUT' breath and EXHALE.
Prana is known as Life Force. Force being an important factor. Being able to breathe in new energy often requires effort as in force. Think about it. When you need to do something you feel a bit worried about, we take a deep breath. 'IN' is first.
Learning how to breathe better is more complex than it sounds. It was one of the things I found most challenging in learning to be a yoga teacher. It requires consistent and regular practice.
Going to a yoga class and practicing asana can really help us breathe better. As a general rule in a yoga practice the inhale, when we take in oxygen, happens when we open our chest/lungs and reach up, often with some force. The reverse happens on an exhale when we surrender and let go. This is when we release carbon dioxide which is a chemical our body no longer needs.
So as we think about International Mental Health Awareness Day, maybe have to face or do something difficult. Appreciate that deep, forceful, breath IN.
Namaste
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