No Worries… Just Breathe
- Jennifer Peck, RYT500, e-RYT200, YACEP, AHC, RM
- Jun 10
- 6 min read
A Personal Reflection on the Power of Breath (and Why It’s the Heart of Yoga)
The breath. It seems so simple, doesn’t it? It happens automatically, without us having to think about it. Yet it is also one of the only bodily functions we can consciously control. And when we do? We touch every layer of ourselves — physically, energetically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
What I’ve learned through both personal experience and teaching is that our breath mirrors our life. When we are stressed, overwhelmed, or carrying old trauma, our breath changes. It becomes shallow. Constricted. Sometimes we barely breathe at all. Or we breathe in a reversed pattern (all that I continue to catch myself doing, even after years of practice!).
That’s why conscious breathwork — pranayama — is so powerful. It gives us a doorway back to ourselves. A way to reset, to nourish the nervous system, to soften the grip of old patterns.
It’s also important to know: we should never force the breath. Breathwork can bring up emotional and mental trauma, sometimes faster than we are ready to digest. Not all breathing techniques are appropriate for everyone, which is why it’s best to work with a well-trained and experienced teacher (such as myself) to find the practices that best support you. Always approach the breath with kindness and patience. Allow it to unfold naturally.
Yoga is All About the Breath
When I teach yoga, you’ll hear me say it over and over again: Just breathe. I probably remind my students to breathe at least 20 times in a single class. Sometimes I even chuckle at myself — is it too many reminders? But inevitably, after class, students thank me. They didn’t realize how often they were holding their breath.
One of my well-known phrases in class is: No Worries… Just Breathe. My students smile when they hear it — it’s become a bit of a signature line. And it’s a reminder we all need, both on and off the mat.
Breath, Prana, and the Nervous System
In Ayurveda, the breath is more than just air moving in and out of the lungs. It is the vehicle of prana — our vital life force.
Prana is a subdosha of Vata — the energy of movement and flow in the body. When the breath becomes shallow or erratic (as it often does in times of stress or trauma), prana becomes disturbed, which in turn affects the nervous system, mind, and ultimately our health.
Through conscious, steady breathwork — pranayama — we can begin to calm Vata, restore balance to prana, and soothe the nervous system. This is one of the reasons breath practices are so powerful for managing anxiety, improving focus, creating an overall sense of grounding and calm — all areas I’m all too familiar with and continue to practice daily.
This is also why I remind my students so often to return to the breath — it is one of the simplest and most direct ways we can support both body and mind. And truthfully, many of those reminders come from my own heightened awareness in the moment that my own breath isn’t flowing as smoothly as I’d like — a gentle cue for myself as well as my students.
“Can You Breathe? Then You Can Do Yoga.”
When I talk to people about yoga, I hear every excuse in the book about why they can’t do it. Too stiff. Too old. Not flexible enough. Too busy. You name it. Add your excuse here: _____. A little humor, but truly, we all have them!
And I always ask one simple question: "Can you breathe?"
At first, they usually give me a funny look. Maybe a laugh. Of course they can breathe. And that’s when I tell them: "Then you can do yoga."
Because yoga isn’t about twisting into a pretzel or getting into the perfect pose. It’s about presence. It’s about connecting to yourself through the breath.
Yoga is for Every Body
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching a wide range of students: people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, individuals on the autism spectrum, those who are deaf, blind, in wheelchairs, people in recovery, and students from age 1 to 89. Students from all walks of life.
And what I can say with certainty is this: everyone can do yoga.
It may look different for each person — and it should. We are all different. That’s what makes it beautiful. Yoga meets you where you are, and the breath is the gateway.
Pranayama Goes With You Everywhere
One of the things I love most about pranayama is that you can practice it anywhere, anytime. I often use breath techniques in everyday moments:
Waiting in line at the grocery store (it’s also where I practice my patience!) LOL
Lying in bed when sleep won’t come — I also lay in bed for 10 minutes after waking to just breathe before I start my full day
Right before teaching a class or training (yes, I still get nervous!)
The breath is always with us. And when we remember that, it becomes one of our most powerful tools for navigating life. While breathwork can’t change life’s challenges, it teaches us to respond to situations with greater awareness, rather than simply react.
Stories from My Students
Some of my greatest rewards as a teacher come from hearing how students carry breathwork into their daily lives:
✨ One student told me she woke at 2AM feeling anxious, and heard my voice in her head: “Just breathe.”
✨ A gentleman shared how he faced an irate customer at work. He calmly said, “Excuse me for a moment,” closed his eyes, and did several rounds of Sun Breaths. It completely diffused the situation. When asked about it, he said, “My yoga teacher says if I start to feel angry… just breathe!” We both laughed about that one.
✨ Another student, who lives with high anxiety and complex health issues, now sprinkles Sun Breaths throughout her workday, right at her desk.
Teaching My Grandkids
One of the most meaningful ways I’ve seen the breath in action is with my own grandson, Jackson. He is extremely high-energy, intense, and often struggles to control his body. Together, we work with breathing and yoga to give him tools to help him learn better control and self-regulation.
This, too, is one of the greatest rewards of being both a teacher and a Mimi. Knowing that I’m planting these seeds early and giving him lifelong tools fills my heart.
A New Offering: Healing Breath Circle
I’ve also been dreaming about creating a monthly Healing Breath Circle — perhaps around the New Moon, when the energy of release and renewal is naturally supported. This could be a beautiful space for us to gather, practice gentle breathwork, and create space for healing together. Stay tuned!
Closing Reflections
The breath is a simple yet profound tool for presence, healing, and resilience. It is always available to us — no fancy equipment, no perfect body required. And yes, it’s free.
But even more than that — the breath is an anchor. A trusted companion. A way home to yourself, no matter what life is bringing your way.
Breathwork won’t erase life’s challenges. It won’t magically make everything easy. But it can help you meet life with greater steadiness, softness, and grace. It teaches us how to respond with awareness rather than react from habit. It helps us remember that in every moment, we have a choice — and that choice begins with the breath.
This is why I return to it again and again — in my own practice, in my teaching, in my daily life. The breath has carried me through so much. And it continues to teach me, every single day.
So next time life feels overwhelming, or you find yourself holding your breath, I invite you to pause. Place a hand on your heart. Soften your belly. And simply breathe.
No Worries… Just Breathe.
If you feel inspired to begin or return to your practice, I offer weekly yoga classes where breath, presence, and accessibility are at the heart of every session. You’re always welcome — just as you are.
Opportunities to breathe with me this week:
Reiki Restorative this Friday from 6:30PM-8:00PM
Rise & Shine on Friday at 8:30AM
With much love, light and gratitude,
Jennifer
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