The present breath

In 2020, when the novel coronavirus, a respiratory disease, is ravaging the world, considering the breath for its health and well-being properties has never been more important. In addition, our breath has qualities that enhance presence and resilience, which are elusive to harness. Thus, breath becomes a powerful tool for the performer, potentially helping her devise works as well as enhancing a connection to her whole self, physical, mental and spiritual. To breathe is to be alive. Respiration is a key system in the human body’s function, a particularly privileged one, for it is both automatic and can be influenced consciously, enabling access to other systems, notably the nervous system. In this writing, I explore, very briefly and from a practitioner’s point of view, how the breath works, outlining the benefits of deep breathing and drawing on experience and available literature. I outline how the breath has been considered theoretically and practically in eastern and western cultures and examine works of art that place breath at their centre. Art helps us to see the potential of breath. This is a broad study, aimed at showing the importance held by the breath across time, geographical locations and art forms. I consider the specific practice of pranayama breathing as a way of harnessing life force, enhancing the physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being of performers exposed to precarious work (made even more precarious by the current health crisis). I present the three requirements of a pranayama practice and make recommendations for those who want to use the techniques by themselves. I conclude by expanding this therapeutic application of pranayama into a fundamental tool to cultivate presence and resilience in the live art performer, offering personal reflections from my own experience of creating one-to-one durational work.