How we breathe can profoundly affect everything from our body and nervous system to our emotions. Working with the breath is one of the central meditation practices in the Buddhist tradition. It is a practice which supports both the deepening samadhi - the gatheredness and collectedness of mind, as well as a meditative understanding of how the mind works.

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On this course we will dive into practicing with the breath. The course is based on the early Buddhist teaching text called the ānāpānasati sutta, or the discourse on the mindfulness of breathing. This ancient teaching text, divided into four parts, presents sixteen steps for working with the breath. These steps form a deepening path of practice with the breath. We will approach these practices emphasising a kind, playful and curious attitude to developing skill in meditation.