We have been doing more work in the California prison system lately, breathing with hard core criminals, jacked up former gang bangers, violent offenders and death row inmates. And the healing, growth and the heart openings have been real and powerful.
Witnessing this has renewed my love and awe of the human spirit, of breathwork, the power of the heart, and simple human connection. It has also reinforced my belief that, as Jim Leonard used to say, “willingness is enough.”
People with no formal training in therapy or experience in dealing with trauma have helped bring about beautiful healing miracles! I am so grateful to the Breathworkers who facilitated the breathing sessions inside the Vacaville Correctional Facility.
Watching them support more than fifty men as they let go of emotional and physical trauma… process it, integrate it, transform it, so that pain no longer controls their life, but becomes part of a larger, more empowering story.
I celebrate the genuine love and selfless service they demonstrated. And I am particularly grateful for their continued commitment to work with the staff and inmates.
It was truly a gift to witness these men relax and let their guard down for the first time since they entered the prison system, or for their whole lives for that matter!
And to see them support, encourage each other inspired me to no end.
In a very real and practical way, we are proving that by consciously breathing and deliberately relaxing, we can work through trauma and navigate the healing and transformation process.
More and more we find that staying conscious, keeping your breath moving, and relaxing as much as you can is the key. Fear and pain naturally melt, trauma simply dissolves. And hearts genuinely open.
Once the process begins, it doesn’t really matter how you breathe, as long as you keep the breath moving. Add to that gentle support, patience, compassion and love, and healing miracles are inevitable!
And so, this month, I encourage you to drill down on the basics. Be heart centered. Practice meditative awareness. Learn to relax more quickly and deeply. Remember to breathe whenever you get triggered. And master Conscious Connected Breathing.
Good luck in your practice, and many blessings on your path.
Dan (Guchu Ram Singh)
Dan (Guchu Ram Singh)
Breathmastery.com
January 2024
