An "Esoteric" Question

Yesterday a student asked me "when you say breathe into your hip joint, or breathe into your shoulder" you can't REALLY LITERALLY breathe into the area, because you can only bring air into your lungs.  Why do you give that instruction, and how do I bring the breath to the area?" Good question!  

The breath is something we all have (or our bodies would be dead) and can relate to and pay attention to.  It is the vehicle of prana, or life force energy.  In this case it is used as a method which everyone can relate to and direct wherever they wish.  Even though "air" is basically entering and exiting the lungs, prana is capable of going anywhere. Air is not prana, it carries prana.

Therefore, when an instructor says "breathe into your hip joint" he is instructing us to draw our consciousness into the hip joint. Our conscious intention directs prana, and using the breath is an easy way for anyone to direct consciousness without worrying about the literal aspects of moving "air" to another location.  Our intention is what makes it happen.

Move prana using your intention

 

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