SEVEN SACRED BREATH EXERCISES

SEVEN SACRED BREATH EXERCISES

In order to ‘open the routes’ of passage for good and proper energy flow, we must clear all obstructions which hinder the natural flow of Chi. Blockage is usually due to three things: physical impediments, mental impediments and emotional impediments. Each is caused by a variety of stressors internally or externally: endogenous or exogenous factors. Exogenous factors happen from the outside and enter the interior of the form or attach to its exterior such as insect bites. Endogenous factors fester within the organism causing for example poorly functioning organ systems such as weak digestion and eliminatory organs. This can be a mild attack or it can become deep rooted illness such as diverticulitis.

It is helpful to know that the energy routes in the body are grounded in the greater and powerful balancing forces of Nature which exerts its influence upon us continually. We can utilize the natural healing forces of Nature, in this case with the power of Air, thru ‘breath’, in order to remove and clear obstructions and revitalize the natural energy flow of body/mind/emotion for Spirit.

The first flow of energy is one route which courses downward in front of the body. If its natural course is reversed and it goes upward, there can be ill effects such as dizziness. In the Chinese and East Asian perspective, this “Functional Channel” is called Yin and has Yin qualities, such as being cold, quiet, and expansive. It is named the Conceptual Vessel (Ren Mai). Its complimentary energy channel flows downward. It is named the Governing Vessel (Du Mai). Its qualities are hot, loud, and contractual. Point to remember that the comparison between Yin and Yang Qualities is relative, and one can only compare one quality at a time. For Yin becomes Yang and Yang becomes Yin, the two energy forces are always moving one into the other. Chi never stops changing. If it did, there would be no life.

As we examine and practice each of the following exercises, we notice that we are directing the Chi Force of both the Governing Vessel (Du Mai which is a Yang Channel) and Conception Vessel (Ren Mai is aYin Channel). One flows upward mid-section of the body’s front and the other going downward mid-section in the back of the body. Together the Du Mai and Ren Mai coordinate all bodily activities.

Each of the following breathing exercises activates and brings balance to your three bodies: the physical/mental/emotional bodies. Breath is the key factor to all of life. Without breath/air we cannot sustain life on our planet Earth. No physical form is sustainable. All living beings require oxygen. Every fabric of a living being comprised of organs, muscles, nerves, skeletal, soft tissue et cetera relies fully upon breath to feed it for proper transformational energy, functioning and maintenance. Furthermore, this air holds a Life Force Energy called Prana, Vital Life Force, or Chi. It is this innate life force which states we are alive.

Breathing properly, breathing deeply and thoroughly calms the parasympathetic nervous system and supports the chemical reactions and requirements for our organic body which in turn enables our brain, systems and organs to function well. As a footnote: The parasympathetic nervous system is one of three divisions of the autonomic nervous system. The other nervous systems are: the sympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating our unconscious actions. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for “stimulation of ‘rest and digest’ or ‘feed and breed’ activities which occur when the body is at rest. Such activities include eating, salivation, digestion, assimilation, urination, defecation, lacrimation, and sexual arousal. Its actions are described as being complementary to the sympathetic nervous system which holds responsibility for stimulating activities associated with the ‘fight-or-flight’ response. The enteric nervous system, also known as the ‘intrinsic nervous system’, is a subdivision of the nervous system proper, and it consists of a mesh-like system of neurons which governs our gastrointestinal functions. It is separate from the autonomic nervous system because it has an independent reflex activity. The enteric nervous system is also known as ‘the second brain’. When performing these breathing exercises imagine a stream of breath, pure, clean air flowing fluidly in and out of your body. Don’t hold a straight line, geometrically stiff, angular pathway in your mind’s eye. Air is fluid and almost amorphous.

EXERCISE I: “Halo Disc of Light” – Perform this exercise 12 times.

INNER MANTRA: MANTRA: “I AM ONE WITH INFINITE INTELLIGENCE DIVINE”.

Sit in a half-lotus position. Keep your spine straightened. You may

use a Yoga pillow under your buttock to support your backside in this posture if you find your abdominal muscles cannot retain this position with ease. The pillow permits you to sit comfortably and longer with distraction.

BREATHING TECHNIQUE: ‘CIRCLES ABOVE HEAD’

Imagine a circle forming over your head as you breathe and your breath moves likewise in a circular pattern above your head. Imagine a fluid breath moving from your occipital, the base of your skull, and it arches upward above your head to the top of your skull, to the “Crown Lotus Chakra” and beyond.

INHALE: Inhale 8 counts of breath. As you inhale upward, your breath travels to your Crown Chakra and beyond it.

EXHALE: Exhale 8 counts of breath. Your breath travels from the region above your Crown Chakra forward to the front of the skull and moves downward to connect again with the occipital region, the baseline of your skull. It is a circle flowing above, beyond, and inside your skull.

EYE MOVEMENT: Your eyes follow your breathing cycle. It goes upward 8 counts and downward 8 counts.

EXERCISE II: “Middle Crossing” – Perform this exercise 12 times.

INNER MANTRA: “I AM STILLNESS WITHIN ALL MOVEMENT”.

POSTURE: Sit in half lotus position. Keeping your body upright,

never slouching, your rib case moves from side to side with each inhalation and exhalation. While breathing and moving keep your torso and abdomen still. In other words, do not make excessive or exaggerated movements in the torso.

BREATHING TECHNIQUE: ‘CIRCLE IN THE BELLY’

INHALE: Filling your lungs deeply with air, keeping your body upright, inhale and move your ribcage to the right. Hold your breath for 8 counts.

EXHALE: Exhale 8 counts moving your ribcage to the left. Then inhale on the left 8 counts, hold 8 counts; then exhale to the right 8 counts, inhale 8 counts and hold 8 counts. Repeat this pattern for 12 times.

EYE MOVEMENT: Keep your eyes focused forward with your eyelids partially closed.

EXERCISE III: “Abdominal Wheel” – Perform this exercise 12 times.

INNER MANTRA: ‘I AM FLOWING BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH”.

POSTURE: Lie flat upon your back in Savasan – “Pose of

Complete Relaxation”, also known as ‘corpse pose’ – your arms are slightly away from your body, palms upward, feet and legs comfortably apart.

BREATHING TECHNIQUE: ‘ABDOMINAL WHEEL OF LIGHT’

INHALE: For 8 counts inhale from the middle of your lower abdominal region, just above the pubis, going upward onto the right side of your abdominal cavity, inhaling upward to your solar plexus.

EXHALE: For 8 counts exhale downward on the left side of your abdominal cavity, just above the pubis.

EYE MOVEMENT: Your eyes follow the circular movement of your abdominal directions. Your breathing movements and your eye motions match one another.

EXERCISE IV: “Pranic Tube of Light” – Perform this exercise 12 times.

INNER MANTRA: “I AM HEART-MIND FLOWING OUT INTO THE WORLD”

POSTURE: Lie on you back in Savasan, arms by your body, palms

open, feet and legs slightly apart.

BREATHING TECHNIQUE: ‘INNER ROD OF LIGHT’

INHALE: Inhale fully, taking as much air as you can for the count of 12, beginning from the top of the Crown Chakra and the area above it. Hold your breath for the count of 6. When you achieve better breath control you can retain your breath for 12 counts and eventually longer spans of time.

EXHALE: Exhale forcibly downward into the navel and the base of your spine and the area below it. This pushes away all blockages in the physical/mental/emotional body and frees up your Pranic Tube of Light. With every strong exhalation, you are releasing old thoughts and feeling that do not serve your Highest Good.

EYE MOVEMENT: Your eyes are focused ahead.

EXERCISE V: “Lower Arches of Flowing Light” – Perform this exercise 12 times.

INNER MATRA: “I AM THE PRESENCE ACTING WITHIN EACH MOMENT”

POSTURE: Lie upon your back in Savasan, arms by your side,

palms upward, legs and feet apart.

BREATHING TECHNIQUE: ‘LOWER ARCHES OF LIGHT’

INHALE: Take a breath from a hand’s distance below your left foot. Breathe in deeply to the count of 8 reaching the pelvic floor.

EXHALE: For 8 counts exhale moving across the pelvic floor, downward on the right side to the Lower Chakra located beneath the Root Chakra about the distance of your hand’s length. Keep your breathing smooth and flowing, it moves like a gentle stream of water.

EYE MOVEMENT: Keep your eyes closed. Focus your mind upon the breath’s length and travel.

EXERCISE VI: “Divine Union” – Perform this exercise 12 times.

INNER MANTRA: “I AM PEACE MOVING WITHIN AND WITHOUT”

POSTURE: Lie upon your back in Savasan, hands by your side,

palms upward, feet and legs apart.

BREATHING TECHNIQUE: ‘PEACEFUL UNION’

INHALE: Breathing slowly and evenly draw your breath starting a hand’s distance from below your left foot. Take your breath up your left leg to the navel. At the navel point imagine your breath as it crosses over to the right side, going upward over the abdomen to the Crown Chakra.

EXHALE: Gently exhale from the Crown Chakra moving downward on the left side of your body, crossing over at the navel and continuing exhalation downward on the right side to the area below the right foot.

EYE MOVEMENT: Keep your eyes closed feeling the power of your breath. Feel its movement and maintain the silent mantra.

EXERCISE VII: “Cocoon of Light” – Perform this exercise 12 times.

\INNER MANTRA: “I AM ONE WITH DIVINE SPIRIT IN

THOUGHT, FEELING AND ACTION”

POSTURE: Lie on your back in Savasan, hands by your side, palms open, feet and legs slightly apart.

BREATHING TECHNIQUE: ‘ENCIRCLED IN LIGHT’

INHALE: Draw your breath a hand’s length below the Root Chakra and take the inhalation above the Crown Chakra.

EXHALE: As you exhale your breath cascades outward on either side of your body, creating a Tube of Luminous White Light.

It flows from the top to either side of your body and from the top

downward in the front and backside of your form.

EYE MOVEMENT: Keep your eyes closed feeling the power of your breath, its strong movement within and around you as you hold the silent mantra.