Breathe

I first started paying attention to breathing after reading John Douillard's

book "Body, Mind, and Sport." Having rid of one quarter of body weight (I was

obese) at 41, I felt light as a bird and was obsessed with running. The idea of

matching steps and pace with breathing felt intuitive. It relaxed me and, as I kept at it, endurance and speed gains followed naturally. I especially enjoyed

jogging uphill. No matter how steep the incline, I just lean forward like a log,

shorten my steps, and adjust my breath on the go and in time reach the top with

ease. In four years, I was able to run up Mission Peak (2516 feet/766 meters

elevation) three times in a row in Xero sandals.

 

Jiu-jitsu, which I took up at the age of 48, was another example. Breathing

is huge in the sport thanks to Rickson Gracie, the master representing the

highest level in the art, who titled his biography "Breathe." As moves and

positions are virtually uncountable, one simply needs to keep the air flowing

regardless. This is easier said than done as the fight-or-flight instinct often

takes over in a tight spot. I still have a long way to go.

 

Overtime, I have blended breathing with other movements. Whatever I do, be it

hammering a nail, painting a door, cutting grass, yoga, or just walking, I would

consciously inhale and exhale to match the motions. I have even tried to apply

the idea when reading and writing. Sitting in half-lotus copying the dictionary,

I would regularly remind myself to inhale and exhale instead of letting my mind

wander away for too long. The result is improved focus and less fatigue.

 

In August, Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" reached me, in time to save me

three sleepless nights so far. I doubled my effort to focus on breathing when

lying still. This way of meditation was not new. Only after losing my job,

however, did I realize I had to control my mind. For one thing, when the mind

insisted on fretting, usually imagining a dark future, I couldn't do anything

about it and had to lose sleep, which often started a vicious cycle. Conscious

breathing was one way to rein the wild beast in.

 

I can see where this is going. Eventually, anything the world has to offer, glory,

wealth, love, food, wisdom, sex, etc., will pale in front of the profound peace

and joy within, induced by breathing. The paths toward living this fact, just 

like the pursuit of happiness, are different for everyone but sooner or later some

are disillusioned enough to try. Instinctively, I feel I have stumbled on a

powerful idea that will lead to enlightenment, which according to Buddha, is the

end of suffering.