According to Chinese medicine, when we breathe into the belly, and soften the abdomen on the inhale, we are also relaxing the diaphragm muscle as it drops down on an inhale, this massages the heart and opens up courage. The diaphragm muscle according to Chinese medicine is also associated with courage.
Deep breathing makes us a good warrior! The first teaching of the Buddha, is that all life is difficult. And in the face of difficulties, let’s not back down then, but develop a deeper understanding that we are right where we are supposed to be. Einstein once said, “Failure only happens when we give up”. And Nelson Mandela, after 27 years of imprisonment on Robyn Island, was freed and asked by reporters why he was not more bitter? He simply responded that if he were angry still, he might as well be back in jail.
Here are some inspiring words to help you through your work today. These words are from Marianne Williamson but spoken from Nelson to the people of South African.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of god. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others”.
Each of us then have this capacity to breathe more deeply, oxygenating our lungs, helping our body, igniting our spirit and calming the mind.
Everyone is welcome to join in our on-going yoga classes at Clayton Yoga! Stop by and check out our yoga class schedule here.
Namaste!