Stephanie Y Jolivet we’ve begun this ritual each morning, where Ludo, mon mari, wakes me up by opening the large porte-fenêtre next to the bed. the light shines in – even if it is cloudy, as it has been with this changeable country weather – and i inevitably squint, rub my eyes, most of the time groan, but also turn my face to receive the warmth of the light, yawn and laugh as Ludo’s lips kiss my belly and he gives a muffled greeting en français to our growing baby. sometimes i’m lucky enough to receive a kiss as well, and then he scampers away – literally, like a little imp – to make his coffee.
the full-length window opens directly out to the cobbled stones that bend toward our front door á droit and lead down two small steps to our yard á gauche. sometimes i slip on my flip flops, but more often than not, i step outside to gauge the warmth of the ground with my bare feet, and, with my eyes closed, i turn my face toward the sky to receive the energy of the sun. i tend to be still, arms outstretched, to enjoy feeling the whisper of the wind against my skin, and to talk to the little starseed in my belly and let them experience the sunshine too.
it’s funny that it took me so long to make the connection between the wind’s caress and my own breathing. ever since i began teaching movement i’ve recognized the importance of breath. not only does it have the physiological benefits of pumping fresh blood to our brain and our muscles, cleansing stagnant air deep within our abdomen, and helping to regulate our nervous system; breath also creates a focus and a rhythm for us to flow into. movement follows breath. breath guides us into movement. and much like the wind wraps itself around my body in the mornings, breath too is three-dimensional. we are already wrapped in it from the inside-out. when we realize this, all we have to do is sit with it and simply let it do its thang.
this kind of awareness has taken me a long time to embody, and it wasn’t really until January 2020, when i took a GYROTONIC® workshop with master trainer, Rita Renha that i fully understood and embraced the “do nothing” principle of allowing breath to happen. Rehna’s words, “breath is core connection. you don’t have to do anything” simply clicked. it was a remarkable “ah-ha” moment. it was like i woke up. literally, all we have to do is support the mechanism that is our infinitely wise body by trusting that it already knows best.
of course, trust takes practice, as does fully engaged breathing. i’m practicing this trust in the power of breath and this “do nothing” principle even more now that i’m gettin’ serious about preparing for ma accouchement, my birthing. i’m not reading a lot, but i was guided toward the book, Hypnobirthing, by Marie Mongan in one of my IG deep dives, and i’m grateful for it. each evening, i sit in front of my altar, thank Source for guiding me to this guide, and i practice deep relaxation through breath. my “sound meditation presents” app (https://soundmeditationpresents.com/) is quite helpful too.
we can’t always meet external – or internal – stressors from a comfortably reclined position, already connected to our breath, in a state of relaxed calm. that’s why, literally, we must repeat and repeat and practice and repeat so that when we are out of that “zone” we have a tool in our box to help us through. so as we practice breathing and moving together today – with the help of a strap – remember that breath is core connection and core connection is our life-force, our pathway to Source. to breathe fully is to live fully. oooo. i just gave myself chills! did you feel it too? ?
self-practice:
find a comfortable seated or reclining position.
close your eyes, and bring all of your focus to your breath.
just listen – literally, how does your breath sound?
also feel it. where is your body expanding? where is it melting inward?
place your hands low over your belly, your fingertips brushing your pubic bone, your thumbs near your belly button.
feel the texture of your clothes, or perhaps the temperature of your hands if you belly is bare.
now, inhale deeply through your nose, like you are pouring the breath down the back of your throat, down the back of your spine, deep into your abdomen.
let your belly expand like a balloon. hold that expansion for a moment or two.
and then open your mouth, like you are fogging a mirror, and let out the breath until there is no more to give and the urge to inhale naturally happens.
continue this breath, imagining waves crashing inside you.
this is your breath.
your breath is the ocean and it is ebbing and flowing energy in and out, and in and out.
now, as you deepen into this breath rhythm, breathe in something you want.
with your mind’s eye, see it; with your mind’s ear say it:
“i breathe in love, abundance, peace, joy, sex, pain-au-chocolat” – whatever it may be.
and as you exhale, breathe out something you no longer need.
with your mind’s eye, see it; with your mind’s ear say it:
“i breathe out fear, constipation, little annoyances, judgement” – again, whatever it may be.
sit with this ocean breath meditation for as long as you can sustain your focus.
when it seems complete to you, let your breath wander back to your “everyday” breathing.
let your thoughts come back to your body, and feel your hands on your belly.
blink your eyes open, and become aware again of the space around you.
