This is the second article in a new series on
the Practice of Breathwork and the Path of Breath Mastery. In the first
article, we explored the Two Basic Aspects of the Practice. They are:
1. Breath Awareness
2. Conscious Breathing
Now we will focus on Two Core Exercises or Techniques:
1. The Coming Home Breath
2. Continuous Breathing
Another name for the “Coming Home Breath” is the “Cleansing Breath.” Another name for “Continuous Breathing” is “Connected Breathing.” The Coming Home Breath is basically an exaggerated sigh of relief. Continuous Breathing means to spin the breath like a wheel.
The Cleansing Breath involves a full expansive inhale with a quick and total release of the exhale. Continuous Breathing means there are
no pauses or gaps between the breaths: the inhale is connected to the exhale and the exhale is connected to the inhale.
Notice that the Cleansing Breath or the sigh of relief is not a technique at all: it is a natural automatic response to a change in our physical, emotional or psychological state. It is an expression or a reflection of a change in our energy.
We already know how to do a sigh of relief. It becomes a breathwork “exercise” or “technique” when we do it deliberately—when we exaggerate it. An important part of this technique is to release the exhale all at once rather than slowly; and to relax and release our muscles and joints at the same time that we release the exhale. Imagine a bow and arrow. We draw the bow back on th e inhale, and we let the arrow fly on the exhale. The further back we draw the bow, the further the arrow will fly. The bigger or more expansive the inhale,
the greater the release and relief on the exhale. If you don’t let go of the arrow, or if you release it slowly, it doesn’t fly at all.
We call it a “Coming Home Breath” for a reason: it helps us to return to a natural state of ease and grace. When we move from a state
of pain to no pain, or from fear to no fear, the sigh of relief naturally happens by itself. And when we consciously give ourselves a sigh of relief, we naturally move our system toward a state of comfort and pleasure.
I know this sounds simple: but that’s because it is! The simplest things are always the most powerful. The Coming Home Breath has treme
ndous cumulative benefits on all levels of health and wellbeing when we practice it regularly. Connected Breathing, the other core skill means that inhale turns into the exhale and the exhale merges with the inhale. is connected to the exhale and the exhale is connected to the inhale. In other words the breathing is continuous or circular. An important part of this practice is to make the inhale active and the exhale passive.
When we are anxious, afraid or in pain, or when we are under emotional or psychological stress, it is very difficult or even impossible to access a natural sigh of relief or to breathe in a connected way. Pain and fear disturb the smooth continuous flow of breath, and prevent a full expansive inhale and a full release of the exhale.
When we can manage to take a full expansive inhale and give ourselves a big soothing sigh of relief, when we can get our breath flowing and turning smoothly like a wheel, we dissolve and release tension and pain, fear and anxiety.
One of the principles of breathwork is to bring these breathing exercises and techniques into our daily lives. We need to breathe fully and freely when we find ourselves holding our breath; and we need to get the breath moving smoothly, gently when it gets stuck, or when it becomes disturbed.
We can use these two core breathing techniques to prevent or release stress. We can engage in them to reduce or eliminate anxiety. We can use them to awaken creative and healing energies. We can use the to calm or set tle our emotions, to quiet or focus our mind, or to relax and energize our body.
We need to practice these two core breathing skills until we master them, until we can do them anytime, anywhere—no matter what is happening in us or around us. The mastery of these two simple skills leads to something called freedom!
Stay tuned for the third article in this series…
Wishing you luck in your practice and many blessings on your path!
Dan
P.S. There are a number of details and subtleties in the advanced use and application of these and other techniques that are best learned
over a series of sessions with a good coach or facilitator. You can find information about Breathwork Practitioner Training at:
[Link to One Year Seminar Landing Page]
1. Breath Awareness
2. Conscious Breathing
Now we will focus on Two Core Exercises or Techniques:
1. The Coming Home Breath
2. Continuous Breathing
Another name for the “Coming Home Breath” is the “Cleansing Breath.” Another name for “Continuous Breathing” is “Connected Breathing.” The Coming Home Breath is basically an exaggerated sigh of relief. Continuous Breathing means to spin the breath like a wheel.
The Cleansing Breath involves a full expansive inhale with a quick and total release of the exhale. Continuous Breathing means there are
no pauses or gaps between the breaths: the inhale is connected to the exhale and the exhale is connected to the inhale.
Notice that the Cleansing Breath or the sigh of relief is not a technique at all: it is a natural automatic response to a change in our physical, emotional or psychological state. It is an expression or a reflection of a change in our energy.
We already know how to do a sigh of relief. It becomes a breathwork “exercise” or “technique” when we do it deliberately—when we exaggerate it. An important part of this technique is to release the exhale all at once rather than slowly; and to relax and release our muscles and joints at the same time that we release the exhale. Imagine a bow and arrow. We draw the bow back on th e inhale, and we let the arrow fly on the exhale. The further back we draw the bow, the further the arrow will fly. The bigger or more expansive the inhale,
the greater the release and relief on the exhale. If you don’t let go of the arrow, or if you release it slowly, it doesn’t fly at all.
We call it a “Coming Home Breath” for a reason: it helps us to return to a natural state of ease and grace. When we move from a state
of pain to no pain, or from fear to no fear, the sigh of relief naturally happens by itself. And when we consciously give ourselves a sigh of relief, we naturally move our system toward a state of comfort and pleasure.
I know this sounds simple: but that’s because it is! The simplest things are always the most powerful. The Coming Home Breath has treme
ndous cumulative benefits on all levels of health and wellbeing when we practice it regularly. Connected Breathing, the other core skill means that inhale turns into the exhale and the exhale merges with the inhale. is connected to the exhale and the exhale is connected to the inhale. In other words the breathing is continuous or circular. An important part of this practice is to make the inhale active and the exhale passive.
When we are anxious, afraid or in pain, or when we are under emotional or psychological stress, it is very difficult or even impossible to access a natural sigh of relief or to breathe in a connected way. Pain and fear disturb the smooth continuous flow of breath, and prevent a full expansive inhale and a full release of the exhale.
When we can manage to take a full expansive inhale and give ourselves a big soothing sigh of relief, when we can get our breath flowing and turning smoothly like a wheel, we dissolve and release tension and pain, fear and anxiety.
One of the principles of breathwork is to bring these breathing exercises and techniques into our daily lives. We need to breathe fully and freely when we find ourselves holding our breath; and we need to get the breath moving smoothly, gently when it gets stuck, or when it becomes disturbed.
We can use these two core breathing techniques to prevent or release stress. We can engage in them to reduce or eliminate anxiety. We can use them to awaken creative and healing energies. We can use the to calm or set tle our emotions, to quiet or focus our mind, or to relax and energize our body.
We need to practice these two core breathing skills until we master them, until we can do them anytime, anywhere—no matter what is happening in us or around us. The mastery of these two simple skills leads to something called freedom!
Stay tuned for the third article in this series…
Wishing you luck in your practice and many blessings on your path!
Dan
P.S. There are a number of details and subtleties in the advanced use and application of these and other techniques that are best learned
over a series of sessions with a good coach or facilitator. You can find information about Breathwork Practitioner Training at:
[Link to One Year Seminar Landing Page]
For more information about Breathwork, please go to www.breathmastery.com.
Download your free copy of my book, "Shut Up And Breathe!" http://www.breathmastery.com/shutupandbreathe
PS: If you are ready to get onto the Path of Breath Mastery right now, you can enroll in the 60-Day Online Course: "21 Lessons in the Art and Science of Breathwork." Visit: http://breathmastery.com/onlinecourse
Or, join my Breath Mastery Inner Circle, and freely access almost 40 years of breath and breathing research, articles, essays, audio/video files, seminar transcripts, workshop handouts, and even complete training manuals!
Visit: http://www.breathmastery.com/breathmastery-inner-circle-membership
