Breath or prana is our animating life force and it's significance is often overlooked in Western
culture. The breath is very powerful, primal and
significant. As a Reiki master, I blow symbols into a student's
chakras to"awaken" them ...the breath gives life. Inhaling or taking
in, blesses us with life; exhaling or expelling can release what is not needed
or not desired.
Notice how your breath rises and
falls. Is it with ease as when one is content and in rhythm with life or is it shallow or choppy with stress or distress, as if one was just taking tiny sips of air in order to survive? Physical activity forces us to breath. Some quiet
streams of air, some paced rhythms, some loud expansions and contractions, some
great big panting gulps of air.. Whether its yoga, running, swimming, zumba or
another activity of your choice that focuses on breath, it’s all good! The
important thing is to focus on helping yourself to breathe when the natural
tendency is to constrict and to withhold proper breathing.
A simple yet effective way to center and calm your
energies is through Pranic breathing. Prana simply means life force. It is
important to connect with our breath-our life force. Begin by sitting cross
legged, on the heels, cross legged, in lotus position or lying on your back. Connect the tip
of the tongue to the palate and inhale slowly and evenly through the nose to a
count of seven as you feel your belly rise and expand as you inhale and
contract and fall as you exhale. At the end of your inhale, hold the breath for two seconds and then, exhale. After the exhale, pause for two sendings and then inhale. Begin your inhale again, repeating this cycle ten times as you are mindful of the feeling of abundance on the inhale, the feeling of release on the exhale and surrender on the exhale. You can also experiment with inhaling to the lace of ten counts and exhaling to the lace of ten counts in slow measured breaths. Repeat the breathing
cycle which appeals to you most for ten breaths at a relaxed pace that is comfortable to you. You can alternate the breathing cycles or select one for a longer period if you choose- as long as you can maintain conscious breath. You should feel calmer, centered and more peaceful. Repeat as often as you feel the need. Namaste.
