Awakening the Divine Within: A Breathwork Practice to Connect Body and Spirit

During the springtime, and even as we bloom into summer, the feeling of breath and life in the world around us is palpable. You can feel it anytime you step outside - in the pulsing warmth of the sun, the soft breeze against your skin, and in the songs of birds that invite your nervous system to slow down.

Breath is essential to life. Just as it can be felt outside, especially during this time of year, it is also something sacredly internal. Breath is a vital bridge, connecting us to ourselves, our body, our spirit, and the divine. In many ancient traditions, breath is seen as a direct line to God, or as the literal life force given to us by God (and in so many traditions, God means different things. But the sentiment can still be found consistently across traditions, no matter the specific forms that take place). Whatever it may be, it’s evident and profoundly felt that our breath connects us to everything. Breath intrinsically creates an interwoven web between all things, both seen and unseen.

Breathwork is a beautiful practice I cherish dearly. It gives me the blessing of connection to myself, the blossoming earth around me, and everything else divine. It draws upon the living, breathing world outside of us and asks us to take the awareness we so often give to the external and to bring it inward. And when we go inward through the breath, not only do we nourish the exquisite world within ourselves, we can feel that the same air and life force we breathe can connect us more deeply to the living beauty that exists everywhere. Suddenly, your body reflects the earth, your spirit comes alive, and your heart opens just a little bit more.

Join me in a beautiful breathwork practice, designed to stimulate the vagus nerve (which activates our rest and digest nervous system). It is a powerful yet simple practice, and really creates space to invite in feelings of connectedness, love, and peace. 

Begin by finding a comfortable position. Sitting or even laying down is perfect - whatever your body asks for. As you begin to settle into your body and the space around you, simply start to bring your awareness inward. 

Before starting the technique, I like to notice how it feels to be within. How does your body feel? How is your heart? Just observing for a moment can really open up the space to give your system the care it needs. Once you feel ready, you can put your hand on your heart take a few deep breaths to settle in more deeply. I like to invite myself to sigh on the exhales, let out any tension, and just release whatever wants to be before diving further in. I’ve found that starting the technique from this place really enhances the experience, but either way, it is heartfelt and potent on its own.

Whatever your experience is, is exactly what it’s meant to be. Breathwork isn’t about controlling or repressing, but rather the beauty of being. May it be whatever it is, and may you know that that is perfect.

The practice we are doing is called the 4 - 7 - 8 technique. It looks like:

1. Inhaling through the nose for a count of 4

2. Holding at the top for a count of 7

3. Exhaling slowly through the mouth for a count of 8

I continue this rhythm for anywhere from 5-20 rounds, depending on how my body feels, where my heart is calling me, and how much time I have. Even 3 rounds is enough to soothe your nervous system in moments of stress or otherwise. 

Another aspect I really love to tie in with breathwork: on the inhales I envision that I am breathing in a certain energy (whatever I want more of in my life - love, abundance, beauty, peace, creativity, etc). On the exhales, I feel whatever does not serve me being let go of, leaving my body, being released from my energy. The energy perspective adds a layer to breathwork that enhances its healing and transformative abilities.

I hope this practice calls you to your life in a new and refreshed way, whether it be big or small. Your breath is one of the most powerful tools that (literally) everyone has. My hope and intention is that it pulls you into the breath of life all around you, breathing life into the one you're living even more. You are connected to so many lovely and magnificent things. You deserve to feel it <3

Xx Lucy