Breathe Out On the Hard Parts
by Ronna Case
God: I wish you’d heard me earlier, about breathing out on the hard parts!
Ronna: When did you say that?
God: One of the times you weren’t listening!
Ronna: Oops!
God: Don’t get distracted. Now you know, Breathe Out On the Hard Parts.
I finally heard this advice in my Water Aerobics class. I was probably 58 years old at the time. Where was this essential information during all those devastating gym classes?! It is truly stunning how much difference it makes when I exhale while doing the things that take the most effort. Breathing out on the hard parts makes the difference between being able to move the same amount of water as the instructor can, and not being able to do it at all. I also have to remind myself to breathe when I am practicing my cello. Sometimes I catch myself doing as many yoga repetitions as I can, while holding my breath. I wear myself out when I do things while “waiting to exhale” – as Terry McMillan wrote. Divine wisdom says: “Breathe out on the hard parts.” When I do, I consistently feel as though I “come into myself,” and that I am “here now” in the midst of The Divine. I inhale God’s help and hope and brightness.
Breath seems like a big key for so many things. I think lots of us hold our breath on the hard parts, including the spiritually hard parts. When we’re afraid or sad or angry, or facing temptation or pain, or when we’re really concentrating on something, or hearing terrible news…we have to remember to exhale. My favorite sport, swimming, is all about breathing in order to be relaxed in the water. What we call Eastern religious practices focus more on the importance of breath than Western ones do. I’m so glad I found out about breathing in time!
So, while doing yoga, I breathe out when moving, and breathe in when I am expending less effort. I move slowly, compared to the other rhythms of my day. I do a sequence of stances and poses I’ve picked up here and there, beginning with Prayer and Warrior and ending in the Child, resting on the floor. Then I uncurl as I rise and do it again. I feel good that I have been doing 10 repetitions of the sequence, which is more than I have consistently done before. I confess to missing one day this week…it was a day off, when I just got busy with errands out of the house….I just forgot until late. The next morning, I got up earlier than usual to do yoga before leaving for work. (It was very dark outside!) Last night I did yoga late, after getting home from small group.
I’m not consistent with time of day. Yet each time I yoga, I feel centered, connected, blessed with breath, even located. Sometimes I feel like I’ve docked with God and heard a word from God. Sometimes I am aware of my breath and body only. Sometimes I understand something in a new way. Sometimes I have to pull back from distractions time and again. Whatever comes, I go on breathing, moving slowly and smoothly and calmly. I feel more “in-tune” and more able to see that the glass is also half full. God wants me to remember about breath, the first divine gift to humanity, the essential practice for rest and renewal and for regaining strength for the journey.
Grateful for this Word, I breathe out on the hard parts.
Tags: Ronna
