Below is a devotion for the 6th week of lent from our friends at Yogadevotion. We hope to invite the simple practice of slow breathing, on and off our mats, to anchor us — to love, to Christ, to solid ground in the face of uncertainty.

Spiritual Focus  

“Slow breathing is like an anchor in the midst of an emotional storm: It won’t make the storm go away but it will hold you steady till the storm passes.” Russ Harris

Devotion 

Thunderstorms are often one of the first childhood experiences that instill fear. Even for us as adults, when a storm hits we don’t always know whether it’s going to be a threatening experience or an exhilarating sound and light show.

If our very first experience of a storm, though, was an exciting display of nature’s wonder (whether or not we consciously recall the event), we may for the rest of our lives find ourselves suffused with a sense of joyful anticipation as we observe a darkening skyscape.

If our first experience was scary, on the other hand—perhaps involving a loss of power and the need to stumble to shelter in the dark, possibly disconnected from those we loved—we may for the rest of our lives find the experience or riding out a storm disconcerting; we’ll have to work hard to anchor ourselves when the next storm comes, as it inevitably will. 

Storms are an ideal metaphor for the challenging circumstances we all face in life. Our past experience informs our present reaction, so when our present challenges evoke past fears we may experience a kind of brain freeze. This is a natural response to fear, but it isn’t the only possible response.

We have another option, an anchor for all situations; it’s something so simple, accessible, and necessary we can do it on a deliberate, conscious level—b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Whether we experience storms on a small or grand scale, breathing through them steadies us, allowing us to think and act appropriately in the moment of crisis. 

Scripture reminds us over and over again to “fear not.” In our yoga practice we are encouraged to breathe, to resist holding our breath as we hold a pose, and to check in to our breath to determine whether it’s safe for us to remain in a pose. Slow and steady breathing not only aids our yoga practice but also helps us weather the vicissitudes of life, allowing our minds to think clearly and our bodies to respond appropriately. Our ever-present breath is a reminder that God has promised to be with us. Learning to breathe through the challenging, as well as the beautiful, storms in our lives is a practice that anchors us to trust in God’s promised presence.  

Breath Prayer

Inhale I Will 

Exhale Breathe

Practice / Pose Focus

In the mid 1970s a renowned Harvard Medical Center researcher, Dr. Herbert Benson, wrote a book titled The Relaxation Response, in which he documented a technique to lower blood pressure and decrease the production of cortisol, a hormone that is released when the body or mind is stressed. It’s a technique that yogis have practiced for centuries: slow exhalation.

Easily portable, this can be done anywhere: whether sitting in a traffic jam or waiting in a dentist’s reception room.

This week, whenever you find a storm brewing, practice slowing your exhalation off your mat. Sighing is a great way to get started. When we sigh we inhale deeply and prolong our exhalation with a sounding breath; this happens organically. It’s a form of wisdom our body instinctively knows.