breath is a muscle

We work out our physical body 
through movement, repetition, discipline...
We strengthen our muscles.
We increase our endurance.
We boost our immunity.
We clear our mind.

Our breath has a body too.
Her body is less visible. Less, perhaps, noticed.
cared for
honored.
She's our humble partner, 
our life-giver
Carrying us from moment to moment
until she parts ways with our physical body.

On every inhale, exhale...
we are flexing this breath muscle.
Just like our physical muscles,
the breath desires to feel strong
It wants to become more capable.
It wants to help us work through illness
tension, disease, pain.

And it shares the same capacity as our magnificent physical body!

Though this breath, 
this sacred aliveness
Dare I say it may even be MORE powerful
than the physical body is capable of understanding
or the mind of knowing.
And because she is our forever partner
perhaps we take her for granted.
For it is not until we really tune into her rhythms
dancing with her, speaking with her in native tongue...
When we rediscover the magic within,
sparkling in delight
for it has been here all along
just waiting to be praised.


~Katie Ring