Breath as a form of activism

Drawing connection between breath as a form of protest in honour of Black History Month.

Inhale, exhale.

Ah, the power of the breath. The gold thread that weaves through almost all mindfulness practices and acts as a powerful tool of liberation through connecting with the self.

Between the chaos, distractions and hustle culture of modern day living, taking an inhale and exhale is an active stance of reclaiming agency. It’s an active form of resistance through reconnection.

Breath as power

The vitality of breath was significantly highlighted by the awful circumstances of the George Floyd murder in May 2020. His death has been a reminder of how precious it is to simply fill our lungs and how the freedom to do so is leveraged against marginalised and oppressed communities.

The symbolic last words, “I can’t breathe” highlight the long history of systemic racism that is now being channelled into power through the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s a reminder of the ways in which society has robbed Black folks of their breath and their ability to breathe freely. Literally and systemically.

Using breath as a form of rebellion, as an avenue of self-healing and liberation is a tool we can all employ to nurture ourselves in a system that isn’t design for a thriving community.

Article inspired by Kim Gerlach, more on Breath as Activism in Black communities here.

If you feel called to activate the power of breath in a SEED SPACE X sun&rise collaboration, join us on 22.02.23 for a sacred container of self-love and healing in our An Ode to Love Digital Workshop.