Too often we take our breath for granted. It is clearly connected to our very life force and vitality. Our emotions and our state of mind are also intimately connected to the breath. In the Ayur Veda, the science of life, it is clearly stated that the sense of touch pervades all the other senses. Without it, they cannot function. This sense of touch is a function of the life force and vitality, the principal source of which is carried in the breath. Breath awareness is essential to any form of meditation. In the Buddhist tradition a whole science of breathing meditation has been developed in the schools of Vipasanna whilst the entire field of Kundalini yoga, with its emphasis on the chakras of centres of energy transformation, has arisen through attention to the basic function of breath.

For the planet Earth, the Sun is the source of vitality and energy. That this affects us is evident. The medical profession has identified and acknowledged "seasonal affective disorder", which basically describes the condition arising if we are deprived of sunlight for lengthy periods of time. The nourishing qualities of food for all creatures are also clearly derived from the sun. In Sanskrit the word for herbs and plants indicates a form in which light and energy are supported.

Breath is the principal carrier or vehicle of our life force, or vitality in the body. On entering the body it divides into five streams or functions. This is symbolised in the Celtic cross, which, significantly, is carried at the head of the procession in the Easter celebrations of Christianity.

Apart from revitalising and nourishing the body on inhalation and relaxing and cleansing the body of all toxins through exhalation, it circulates the vital force throughout the body, literally from the crown of the head down to the tips of the toes, ensuring life is everywhere. The breath also fans the fires of digestion. The fifth "stream" of breath connects to our vital intelligence - it being a matter of common experience that what we are thinking and feeling both affects and is affected by our breathing patterns.

All this we can find out for ourselves by being in touch with our breath. Being in touch with our breath opens up the possibility of meditation and meditative awareness. The following practice, if followed, will go some way to re-establishing the natural breathing functions. You may life to record this onto a cassette and use it as a guide until the systematic flow of the practice comes naturally to you.

The key area is the place where the bridge of the nose meets the upper lip. focus your awareness at this point and be in touch with the moving air as it enters and leaves the nostrils. This is substantial and tangible - you can feel it. If not, persevere until you can. This is a practice to bring deep relaxation to the body and the mind, based on the breathing system and the subtle energy systems which carry the life force throughout the body. You will find that the mind rests very naturally at this point where the bridge of the nose meets the upper lip, and the breath itself is a most natural focus for the minds' attention.

Remember that breath is life, so as you focus at this point where the breath goes in and out of the nostrils, feel that you are in touch with the flow of the life force and all its movements within the body. By focusing at this point of tangible contact with the breath, you will form a centre of awareness of touch and feeling. With no effort on your part, this centre will naturally expand to bring you in touch with the entire energy field of your body, from the crown of you head to the tips of your toes.

Relax into your energised body. Accept what you find there. Do not try to change anything. simply observe the rise and fail of the breath. As you inhale, observe how your energy field is filled with life, light and energy. As inhalation turns to exhalation, let go of everything you no longer need. Experience the twin functions of breathing - fulfilling and enlivening on the inhalation, relaxing and cleansing on the exhalation.

Remove all effort from the breathing process. Let energy and breath be all you are aware of. with no effort on your part, breathing will become smooth, with no jerkiness. It will become free from unnecessary noise and gradually it will become deeper and will measure itself in a even, harmonious rhythm. allow your breathing to become an unbroken cycle in which inhalation becomes exhalation and vice versa without a break.

Now we will explore the subtle energy field of the body, co-ordinating mind, energy and body in the process.

Check you are in touch with the flow of air at the point where the bridge of the nose meets the upper lip. Follow the next inhalation up the nostrils and focus your awareness between the two eyebrows, allowing the face muscles to relax.

Now focus awareness on the larynx, at the pit of the throat.

Follow the flow of energy through the left shoulder joint, down the upper arm to the elbow joint, feeling the energy in the forearm and its pulsing in the left wrist. Now follows its flow through the tip of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger.

follow the energy back through the left wrist, elbow, shoulder joint and rest awareness again in the larynx.

Repeat this sequence down the right side, shoulder, elbow, wrist, thumb and the four fingers and back again to the larynx.

Now follow the breath down to the "heart" centre, between the two breasts. From here, feel the flow of energy in the left breast, return to the heart, observe the energy in the right breast and again return to the heart centre.

Behind the belly button is the Solar Plexus (knot of the sun) and behind that in the spine is the navel centre. Be in touch with the energy at this point and then sense the very base of the spine.

Now be aware of the energy flowing through the hip joint and down the left thigh to the knee. Then down to the left ankle and out through the toes, beginning with the big toe. (Yes, is is possible to feel the energy in the toes!). Follow the flow of energy back through the left ankle, knee and hip joint to rest awareness again at the base of the spine.

Repeat this careful observation of the flow of energy for the right hip joint, knee, ankle, and the five toes and back to the base of the spine.

Now gradually focus the awareness of energy up the spine, through the navel centre, heart centre, larynx, the point between the two eyebrows and from here follow the breath down the nostrils again to be aware where the bridge of the nose meets the upper lip.

Take a moment to relax and delight in the vitality of the energy field which is both within you and all around you. Enjoy the feeling of its harmonious movement. Realise that the awareness that has enabled your steady observation of all these movements of energy is completely free of involvement with any of them.

Breath breathes. The expressions of life expand and contract. Awareness simple is.

This practice re-energises the energy system, co-ordinates body, breath and mind and is very therapeutic. Tension anywhere in the energy field is a cause of distress and eventually dis-ease. Intelligent, focused awareness is a great dissolver of tension. As the "Knots" of tension dissolve, energy flows. Apart from these obvious benefits, the practice gradually restores and breath to its natural rhythm and depth, keeps you "In touch" and fosters meditative awareness.

Gradually all the activities of daily life will become more finely measured. Take a simple activity like opening and closing a door. Observe the quite unnecessary use of force often employed in this simple process. See the difference when the door is opened or closed with "In touch" awareness. In touch, all activities become more relaxed; combine this with the practice of falling still between activities already mentioned, and weariness and fatigue will become a thing of the past.

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