Penny's Yoga, Parksville, B.C.

The 333 Project

My intention with designing the '333 Project' is to help everyone bring the benefits of yoga into our daily lives.

What is it?

It's a challenge for you to take 3 fully present, deep breaths, 3 times a day for 3 weeks.

At the end of your 3 weeks I ask you to write a short piece (paragraph or so), or 3 minute video blog, on your experience and what you noticed.

Your reports and video blogs will be added to this page to be shared by everyone practicing '333's'.

We will run the 333 Project for 3 months: April 3 to July 3 and you can do as many 3 week blocks as you like. Each time you do a 3 week block and send me your report your name goes into a draw for 3 One on One sessions with me. If you win the 3 sessions you must give at least one away to someone else (to help us practice generosity!)

Congratulations Laurel you won the 3 One on One sessions !!!

Please everyone, continue your own personal experiements with this little exercise and keep sending in your reports whenever you feel like it, or notice a change of some kind. Imagine if we could create a world community of people breathing consciously and lovingly ... what else would change ...? :)

- Penny

Reports in to date: July 18, 2010

'Thank you for encouraging the 333 project it is amazing how much 3 breath 3 times a day for 3 weeks can change your life. I love the felling of the calmness in my body after 3 proper breaths, I always feel ready to face anything and everything just falls into place so there is a lot less stress in my life. For me the 3 breaths, 3 times a day has become a lot more breaths, when something feels so good it becomes addicting. (Finely something good to be addicted too)! Thank you so much.' - Lene Klassen, Parksville

'3 deep purposeful breaths three times a day is becoming a daily routine not just something I do for three weeks. I think maybe Penny knew that this would happen. The calming effect of purposeful breath is well known and I used to teach children to take deep breaths when they were in a stressful situation and I do the same especially in the dentist chair. Now I have learned that I don't need to wait for stress to breath. I look forward to taking time to breath each day. Sounds silly because we are always breathing but taking time to breath is totally different. I am going to breath now.

Thanks Penny.' Laurel - Parksville

'Boy, three fully-present deep breaths is a challenge!
I can do it three times a day (with the help of a reminder on the computer), but to be fully-present for three breaths is surprisingly difficult.'

Mark, Victoria, Australia

'When Penny first told us about her 333 challenge, I thought what a great idea,

but I'll never be disciplined enough to do it. Well, turns out,
its actually pretty easy to work into the day and a bit addictive as well.

When I start to feel overwhelmed I breath and feel my shoulders inching down and away from my ears.

When dealing with a problem I breath and my mind clears giving me the space I need to find the solution.

When the monkey mind takes over I breath and find myself smiling at myself.

When I find myself racing through a meal I breath and slowdown enough to enjoy every bite.

Thank you Penny, this is a wonderful way to bring more presence, calm and peace into every day.

Cheers, Lea - Parksville, B.C.

'As a result of the 333 project, I'm finding that I'm taking more time to "smell the roses" and that my creative side seems to have blossomed. Result = I've taken this photo and written a little haiku to try to express how "breathing" is is changing my life. Thank YOU Penny!' - Dorothy, Parksville

'While I am not batting 100 here, I have remembered to breathe for the 333 project at least twice a day for the three weeks....and sometimes three times!! If not life changing, it does serve to keep me mindful of "breath!!" Easiest first thing and then at bedtime....but you know how the business of life gets in the way during the rest of the day?! I will keep at it!!' - Laurel - Nanoose

'This is crazy simple, but crazy hard! I had no idea how disconnected I was until trying this experiment - and I've practiced yoga for over 5 years! Well - I now see I've been going to yoga classes but not actually using what I've learnt in my life! Thank you for opening my eyes, and ears, and senses, and heart!!!' Josh, Calgary. AB.

'As the days passed, my breath practice became more and more consistent.

Some days I needed more breaths and took them!

I started to experiment with taking breaths whenever I noticed a different emotion; when I felt tired, anxious, overwhelmed or indecisive. Each time, these breaths brought me into the present and helped my reactions to those emotions dissolve. What I realized though, was that my trigger to breathe was some type of 'negative' emotion.

It made me wonder what would it be like to breathe in those 'positive' or 'happy' moments. I expected that the elation would just last longer, because isn't that what we all want - to be happy? So I tried it and found instead that I felt a deep sense of contentment, similar to the feeling I have when I breathe in the tough moments. I was surprised and confused by this experience at first, but it is beginning to make sense. It says to me that perhaps contentment is what we are seeking, the balance between the 'highs' and 'lows' and that the breath will help us get there.'

Namaste, Leslee - Parksville

'I have noticed that the 333 project helps keep me more focused
during the day and mindful of my breathing. Thanks Penny.' - Marg - Parksville

'This was harder than I thought it would be! I never noticed how unaware I am during the day until trying this. It's slowly becoming a new habit and when I do take my 3 breaths it feels like a 'breath of fresh air' and a little holiday from the stress of my everyday life. Thank you for encouraging me to try this Penny. It's definitely helping to lower my blood pressure!' - Sue, Victoria.

First, a big thank you for initiating Project 333. It is a breath of fresh air (no pun intended!)As a long time 'chest' breather, 333 was the perfect daily reminder for me to focus on my breath.

In the first few days, my big 'ah-ha' moments were realizing how much of my day just passed me by. It forced me to question how mindful was I really? Simple things like eating a bowl of oatmeal and still feeling hungry shortly after to being absolutely satisfied. Really being in the moment showed me how to savor the experience so that I didn't really need to look back at it later. I could just 'be'.

After the first few days of blissful highs, 333 turned into 33, maybe 3 and if I am honest 0. Sometimes I would realize, (usually with shock during your yoga class) that I hadn't taken any intentional breaths the day before, let alone 9! But this again was a great lesson and an opportunity to practice ahisma toward myself.

They say it takes 21 days to create a habit...so now I have a sticky note above my desk to remind me of the gift that is available to me anytime I want. Namaste - Leslee - Parksville

'We are always breathing.

Yet just like the ocean waves, snowflakes and finger prints, each breath is unique. Prana is translated to mean 'to bring forth mystical vibration' - that ineffable energy that exists in sunlight, water, earth, plants, animals, people and wind or breath.

For us humans, the most direct way to feel this universal life force (Prana) is through the wave like nature of our breathing. This reminds us that even though everything is changing all the time, we can still feel peaceful, as long as we keep in rhythm.

Whenever you feel out of sync, take a moment to lengthen and equalize your inhale and exhale. Right away you will feel more balanced, more alive and expansive.'

- Cyndi Lee, Yoga Teacher, NYC, USA.