I'll never forget the process of my yoga teacher training in India. My guru was an older Indian man, rather stern in demeanor. Each day we practiced upwards of 6 hours of asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing). His style was simple, "the oldest, most traditional form of yoga there is." He didn't buy into this new-age fancy, lululemon yoga stuff that everyone and their grandmother is doing. To him it was quite simple, you follow through a simple series of poses, followed by deep relaxation, then a long range of breathing exercises. The breathing exercises were his greatest effort and in his opinion, the most critical piece of the puzzle. He put it quite simply, through the breathing exercises you will become more intuitive and gain control over your whole life... quite a promise. I went with it, his passion for his work was so impressive that I partially believed him, but partially also assumed that his guarantee came from enthusiasm for the practice. 

Well thirty days came and went, as well as more than 200 hours worth of rigorous training and studying and the change was nothing short of astounding. My upper respiratory system was stronger than it had ever been, I had had some very intuitive experiences and I felt like I could transcend just about anything thrown at me. Crazy, right? 

But let me break it down for you. When you breathe, or practice breathing exercises, you are drawing all of your awareness and attention into your breath. Breathing is something we can only do in the present moment, so through this focus on breath you become incredible present and highly aware of everything that you are experiencing physically, mentally emotionally. It is through this awareness and breath that you can gain control over these experiences, because in that present moment you are able to slow yourself down enough that you can better control your reactions. It is quite well known that breathing calms you down, it's for the same reasons as mentioned. So if you perfect your breath through exercises, then you can... 

• Relax your muscles enough to build strength and endurance, in yoga this means the ability to hold poses longer to deepen both the strength and the stretch, as a runner this means increased endurance. 
  
• Disconnect yourself from highly emotionally and mentally taxing situations so that you can slow your reactivity and calm yourself. This can mean stopping a fight from breaking out, or nipping anxiety in the bud.
• Boost your health! Your respiratory system becomes so strong that it becomes much more difficult to be brought down by colds and allergies.

Breathing does all of this, but in order to get to this place you must practice breathing exercises. It's incredible the range of physical, emotional and mental sensations that come up when you go through a breathing exercise for several minutes. When you are manipulating your breath, both the mind and the body react, muscles tense, anxieties pop up and with practice you eventually experience these things but are able to keep moving with that breath. The breath brings up these experiences, but in the breath is also the tool to overcoming them. In moving through these exercises you eventually can bring this tool into your life, overcoming intense situations as they arise. When you learn to control your breath, you can learn to control your reactions to the physical and mental battles around you.

Don't believe me? Try it. Just like my guru, I absolutely guarantee that they will change your life.

Most things in life can't be controlled. It sucks. Shit happens. Sometimes in the midst of chaos all you want to do is curl up in bed and wave the white flag. Just give up. Universe, you have won. It is in these moments that all the negative thoughts you have ever had about your life come flooding in. It's like they just wait around your moat and as soon as you're weak enough they attack. At this point in the game you have successfully become the victim. The glorious victim that can now run around life shouting, "woe is me!" "you have no idea what I feel!" and all those other things that make you feel like you are special because you are suffering. But really, why would you want to be the victim when you can be the hero?

What can be controlled is your reaction to the uncontrollable. How much do you trust that all will be well? Be honest. How much do you trust that no matter what life throws at you that you will do you absolute best to make it through to the other side with a smile on your face? How much do you believe that sometimes just making it through with a smile is ENOUGH.

Every situation that comes your way brings a fork in the road, you can choose the negative or the positive. If someone is bullying you, you can give in and be bullied or you can pull in all that self love and maintain how incredible you actually are, letting the bully's words wash away. There is always a choice to be made, you can submit to the worry, fear, doubt, anger, blame and more or you can choose to reconnect with that positive light within you that is capable of conquering any tough situation.

Shit happens. Every day and to every one. Why is it that some people seem to be so much more successful at living? Because they choose to not be defined by their shit. Because they  choose to maintain their own strength and personal power through the challenging times. 

Imbolc is the day that falls between the winter soulstice and the spring equinox. The winter solstice marks the depths of darkness and the deepest connection with your inner soul. It is only through that connection to and wisdom of the inner soul that magnificent inspirations and visions can arise giving way to the rebirth of the spring equinox. Today marks the beginning of that transition, we are once again entering into the light. Thought it is not quite yet time to plant the seeds of inspiration, it is time to prepare them. Over these last few weeks of darkness, stillness and silence, what voices have spoken to you? What fires have you lit to stay warm? What homes have you fortified to stay safe? This is all wisdom, and this wisdom isn't spoken from ego, but from Soul. 

It is likely that this wisdom didn't come to you in one grand gesture, but in the form of many thoughts, or seeds. It is time to take these seeds and prepare them for planting. It is time to plan. Now that you know, what will you do? Will you fortify your earth and allow your seeds to germinate? Spring is the time to take action so that in the summer you will bear fruit. To make this year a success you must know the fruit that it is you desire and plan the action necessary to create it.

In the spirit of Imbolc and the goddess Brigid, take time tonight to light candles, be still, cleanse your soul in a deep bath and gather your thoughts. Celebrate with gratitude the darker days that have past, preparing you for the brighter days of your future. Gather the seeds of wisdom and inspiration you have obtained over these last few weeks, as you line them up their power will pull together like a puzzle. Like a true gardener you will plan and space your seeds, readying them for planting and growth so that someday soon you may harvest your dreams.