NOW, it is time to change our language according to the breath flow and Asana. Most Yoga teachers think that we have to link Asana and Breath in such a way that they always say: “While you do this, breathe in, and while you do that, breathe out “. Students are coming to the teacher asking: “Did I do this right or wrong”? Now the teacher can realize that he taught in a way making the student dependent instead of guiding him to the freedom of self-discovery.

Slowly she can change her language to: “While you move your body in this or that way, observe the flow of your breathing. When and how does the inhalation occur and when and how does the exhalation”? Now the students become scientists, observing what happens. They learn not to judge, only to observe and become free.

I developed in Germany 7 steps as a preparation for Meditation. The 5th step is: Observe the miracle of Inhalation and Exhalation for which you have nothing to do. You receive this flow from a power that is accepting you as you are with all your weaknesses and strength. Experience yourself as an observer of the unconditional sign of love.

This realization is for me the foundation of all relaxation. When I realize that I have nothing to do, I receive the Breathflow for free, the foundation of my life, whether I am good or bad, as a permanent sign of hope and a new chance, I can start to relax completely with no effort and with great joy and gratitude.

In my seminars, I ask the participants: “Can you breathe in and out?”  Most of them say: “Yes, sure”. Then I answer: “So you are the master of your being?” “Yes, sure”, they say.  Then I challenge them and give them the task to decide as the master to breathe in and not out. I ask them to do it attentively, observing what happens at the end of the inhalation. Most people feel strange and insecure at the beginning of that experiment. But after further practice, they experience consciously an enormous power, which is forcing the exhalation to come, even though the so-called Master did not want it to happen.

That observation allows the conclusion that we cannot breathe in and out. The Breath we receive is a heavenly present, a sign of unconditional love and hope, for which we have nothing to do.

Patañjali describes in his Yoga Sutras this as the fourth state of Breath, which flows from the celestial worlds to all living beings.

NOW, after that realization, we should slowly change our language to: “Observe the flow of the Breath” and stop saying in our classes: “Breathe in and breathe out! Breathe deeply and slowly”. We are not the doer and our language should mirror that we do nothing – we are children of God and are fed by him selflessly, continuously without a break. What we can do is allow this miraculous flow to happen, to become scientists who wonder like little children and enjoy that unconditional love.

Editor’s Note:

Wolfgang Bischoff studied with Swami Rama of the Himalayas. As well as being the Spiritual Director of Himalaya Institut Deutschland, he is a mantra initiator and is also a member of the AHYMSIN Adhyatma Samiti, or Spiritual Committee. He was instrumental in developing a long-running 4-year teacher training course accepted by the German yoga teacher association.  Himalaya Institut Deutschland celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2011