This week’s Breath of the Week was one of our Evening Wind Down’s inspired by a very special arrival in Liz’s family – the birth of her newest grandchild.
In the quiet nights since, Liz has stepped into the role of “night nana,” rocking the baby after feedings while her daughter gets some much-needed rest. It’s in these hours, holding new life and listening to his breath, that this practice began to take shape.
A Breath for Effort and Ease
We begin by creating gentle friction, rubbing the hands together as a way to symbolize the energy, work, and heat of labor and creation. As the hands move, the breath stays slow and steady:
- Inhale through the nose for a count of four
- Exhale through pursed lips, as if softly blowing out a candle
This is breath as preparation, breath as grounding before moving into effort.
From here, Liz introduces the breath of relief – inhaling through the nose with a subtle smile and exhaling with a long, audible Haaaaa. It’s the sound of release, of softening into what is, and letting the body sink into ease.
Inspired by a Newborn’s Breath
The second half of the practice is modeled after the natural rhythm of a newborn’s breathing. After nursing, babies often breathe in a fast, circular rhythm, then gradually slow into deeper rest. Liz guides us through this pattern:
- Short, shallow circular breaths with one long inhale after every five breaths
- Medium-paced breath with a gentle sound
- Slowed, silent breath, expanding the fullness of each inhale and exhale
- Ending in deep rest and stillness, with a subtle smile that says, “Life is good.”
Why This Practice Matters
In life, as in breath, there’s a cycle, effort and ease, creation and release, fullness and emptiness. This Evening Wind Down is a reminder that both are equally important, and that we can choose to move between them with more awareness.
As Liz says, “You did the dance of life today. Now, you get to rest.”
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