The richness of an interlude is made apparent through meditation. Is meditating not an interlude in and of itself? As we meditate, we detach from solely focusing on outer activity—from rushing to and fro, from immediately responding to life’s daily demands, from planning, from tasking, etc. Meditation offers an opportunity to integrate the inner experience with the outer activity, or visa vera; the outer experience with the inner activity. Experience and activity become wholistic.
Squared breathing is a wonderful way to practice this. It engages the parasympathetic nervous system, which is often referred to as the body’s rest & digest response. Typically, this system works autonomously – it does its own thing in its own time in response to conditions. Yet, squared breathing is voluntary and it can shift nervous system from excitement to receptivity. This can come in handy, not only in meditation, but in everyday life.
The beauty of this practice lies in the interlude between the inhale and the exhale. And more beauty lies in the subtle space between the breath and the transition to the “pause” itself—the between-the-between. That’s the beauty of interludes, you can find them everywhere.
Happy practicing. This is more of an exercise than a meditation; stick with it, it’s SO GOOD for you. Here’s a chart for those who are visually inclined:
Enjoy!