The simplest part of each practice can also be the hardest part.
To sit. To breathe. To be present.
Sometimes in classes and sessions, I notice that this is the most challenging part of the practice. We often don’t have the patience to simply sit and breathe. We are used to movement, to doing, to achieving something.
And yet, this is also the most beautiful part of the practice.
The moment we reconnect to ourselves. The moment we notice our breath and the flow of it. The moment we allow ourselves to stay present.
To sit.
To observe.
Breathing is the anchor I use in all my sessions — both Yoga and Family Constellations. It is the key that connects everything. It allows the gentleness of Yin Yoga. It helps us access depth in Gravity Yoga. It supports strength and focus in Ashtanga. And it creates space for what needs to be seen and felt in Family Constellations.
We often focus on the movement and try to adjust the way we breathe. But from my work with clients and my own practice, I have noticed something different.
When you truly connect to your breath, the body naturally follows.
Everything becomes easier. The movements. The asanas. The experience of being in your body. The mind begins to soften. The body releases. And you may find yourself surprised by how much more you can feel, how much deeper you can go, and how much more naturally your breath begins to flow.
Sometimes it is easier to connect to our breath when we are on the mat because the intention is already there. Sometimes it is easier to allow the breath to happen in a Family Constellation session because the space naturally invites presence.
But what about everyday life?
What if we intentionally created these moments for ourselves?
At home. At the office. On the Tube. In the middle of a busy day.
Simply taking a moment to bring your awareness back to your own breath.
To follow its path. To observe it. To feel it. To notice how it moves through your body. And perhaps to notice what is there. A little tension held from everyday life. A place where you are holding your breath without realising. Or a depth of breath you didn’t know was available to you.
There is so much your breath can show you when you simply sit for even a minute, bring your attention to it, and see what is there.
And yes, I encourage you to do this daily.
Maybe at the beginning it feels difficult. Maybe the first thought is: “I don’t have time for this.” And yet, I invite you to give yourself just two minutes of your day.
Two minutes to simply be. Two minutes to breathe.
A simple practice of noticing your inhale and your exhale.
With time, you may naturally deepen the breath, extend the inhale, extend the exhale, or simply become more aware of the rhythm that has always been there.
Sometimes the most powerful practices are also the simplest ones.