Why We Begin with the Breath

Breath is the first thing we do when we arrive in this world, and it stays with us through every moment of our lives. Yet it is often the very thing we forget when life becomes full or stressful. In yoga, the breath is our anchor. It helps us come back home to our body.

When we pay attention to our breath, we begin to notice how we are feeling. A rushed breath can tell us that the mind is busy. A shallow breath can show that our body is holding tension. Slowing the breath invites the nervous system to soften. Muscles release. Thoughts ease. The whole body responds with a sense of safety.

In class, we often start by simply noticing the natural flow of breath just as it is. There is no right or wrong way to breathe. There is only this moment. From there we can lengthen the inhale, follow the exhale, and allow movement to grow from the inside out.

If you are curious to explore this at home, try pausing once today to take three slow, steady breaths. Feel the air enter through the nose, the gentle expansion of the ribs, and a calm release as the exhale leaves your body. It is a small act that can shift how you feel in a big way.

The breath is a guide, a teacher and a steady friend. When you begin your practice with the breath, you give yourself a chance to arrive fully. Body and mind together.