Embodiment Practice: Breath Awareness
Connecting the breath and mind, and moving towards liberation.
Hey relative! For the month of December I am trying out a new publishing format. On Monday I will send out a new essay along with a note on what I am listening to, reading, and creating. There will be an additional Friday post for paid subscribers to include either an embodiment practice, or recipe. If you have questions, or feedback, I’d love to hear from you. Thanks!
One of the most common questions that I hear from people is, “Do you meditate?” People usually follow up the question by insisting that they want to meditate, but have a hard time not thinking. I understand the feeling. When I first started my practice I did the most trying to cease the constant stream of thoughts running through my mind. I would eventually give up with each attempt, feeling defeated and frustrated that I was somehow missing out. It wasn’t until I started to practice breathwork that I realized how ridged I was being. When I began to get curious about my breath, the rigidity gave way to softness.
Over time, whatever expectations I had about what my practice should look like fell to the compost pile. In fact, those expectations—big and small—are still falling. In turn, I’ve come to understand that breathwork, like meditation, is praxis for liberation. Working with the breath, in lieu of trying to control the mind, is where change happens—at the threshold between inhale and exhale. When I practice compassion for myself in this way I am working with trauma at the root; becoming intimate with how and why patterns form; remaining present with those patterns; and, when necessary, witnessing their release. The alchemy that can occur during breathwork creates space to embody reciprocity and move towards more generative possibilities.
I would be remiss not to mention the people who continue to inspire my practice, including Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Chuana Bryant, Manoj Dias, Jennifer Patterson (
), and Chelsea Lueger and Those Collins of Well For Culture—just to name a few. There are also more-than-human relatives and ancestors who make the very act of breathing possible, including molecules, microorganisms, fungi, moss, trees, bees, and butterflies—there are so many, some whose names I don’t yet know.In today’s practice, we will focus on becoming aware of the breath—the location, texture, speed, and strength. As always, I encourage you to get curious and trust yourself in the process.
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Monday’s essay will include a recap of the Ohio Herbal Elders opening exhibit. While I did not get a chance to see or walk much of the land, I did have an exceptional time getting acquainted with the southeast region of Ohio.