Collectively holding our breath - when did we decide this was acceptable?

Lately, I’ve been noticing how many people are quietly holding their breath, diligently adhering to the pace of the world around us, a continuous roller coaster where we are always just a little on edge that something might give.

And this my friend is exhausting… so many of us go through our days feeling wired but tired, exhausted and burnt out.

And I don’t mean the kind of tiredness and exhaustion where needing a holiday might be the answer, I’m talking about the kind where taking care of yourself, resting or even just breathing feels like effort.

We wait, holding the breath, body gripping and we hold on tight, bracing for an impact that never really comes.

I notice the way people breathe and yep ok it’s kind of a big part of my job to notice the breath but I see it in my daily life too.

Shoulders lifted, bodies clenched, hurried sentences, tired eyes and the breath shallow, quietly held.

I even notice it in the yoga space, hurried transitions, breath being held, agitation and frustration when pausing in stillness.

Classes and yoga studios that I have been to myself where I notice language that invites practitioners to challenge yourself even more, to push a bit harder or further, to test your edge, to work harder… a barely detectable, ever present undercurrent of expectation asking us to do better, do more, be more!

I hear your stories about how often each and every one of us ignores and overrides the small but significant signals to pause, rest, take a breath…because stopping feels inconvenient, slowing down can feel indulgent or even unsafe, resting feels illegal!

My big mission is to be even just a small part of the story that helps us to eliminate hustle culture, begin to normalise rest and rediscover playfulness and joy.

The tools of yoga and yoga therapy are a good place to start…It feels like a good direction to aim but somethings nag at me:

When did we decide this holding, this tension and hustle was ok? When did we start to believe this is completely acceptable?

And, is it our bodies letting us down or could it be that we have become so adjusted to the pace of the hustle, adapted on the emotional and mental realms? Have we accepted that we are just always being asked too much? Do we need something different if even our own yoga practice has been tainted by our over stimulated nervous systems?

I don’t have the answers.

I don’t have a full blown strategy on how I can actually play a small part in that big mission yet. Or how we can collectively begin to breathe and bring more ease into our days.

I wish I did know the answers.

I do know there is no quick fix or magic wand for this collective bracing, this collective holding of our breath.

But I’m always listening carefully.

Noticing without judgement and paying attention.

Doing my best in the little time we share together on the mat to weave a little softness, a little space and an invitation to pause into your day.

Sometimes I think I could do more so that you can find space to do less, do something different that helps you lean in to peace and make it a little easier…to exhale!

There isn’t a neat and tidy answer here, there is nothing I am asking you to do but perhaps…Stay curious!

Notice when you are holding the breath and bracing and begin to experiment and explore.

Ask yourself what it is that might help us soften, what we need to help us feel safe to let go, what do you need to help you shift from striving to thriving?

Stay curious and give yourself permission to let go!

Kerry x.