How important do you feel breathing is to your ability to be happy and healthy? A little important, a lot important, or extremely important? And if you feel it is extremely important what coaching or training have you received to help you with better breathing techniques? Just breathing in and out is not good enough if you are committed to optimal health and peak performance. The energy psychology of accessing better breathing techniques may be one of the hottest new health hacks and trends in the western world right now. Optimal breathing is easy to do and easy not to do optimally…so become a student of breathwork to enjoy many profound health benefits and long-lasting rewards.
We know many people set New Year’s goals and resolutions to eat less junk food and exercise more. But how many people do you know that are focused on learning better breathing techniques to master their breath, lungs, and oxygen capacity? While it is great that many people made New Year’s resolutions to be healthier if we do not master the basic foundation of breathing to be fit and healthy many areas of our life will be more challenging. I do not know about you but growing up there was very little guidance about breathing and breathwork other than to breathe in on the relaxation phase and breathe out on the exertion phase. In high school and the army, we learned the benefits of breathing to a cadence and rhythm during exercise and running. But there was not a well-defined strategy and system to optimize our breathing.
Not enough people know about the art and science of breathing and breathwork from ancient Ayurveda traditions called Pranayama.
“Learning and mastering better breathing practices can help enhance your emotional, mental and physical health and even help in transforming your lifestyle.” —Michael Morningstar
There is a long list of benefits associated with better breathing such as better: awareness, emotional balance, endurance, energy, immune function, mental function, pain reduction, perception, resilience, and vitality. And there are several problems associated with poor breathing techniques such as brain fog, low energy, lower performance, mental confusion, mitochondria atrophy, sleep apnea, snoring, and weakness.
Anyone and everyone can benefit from learning pranayama breathing techniques. Students and workers alike can utilize it to help them during a busy day in just a few minutes. Children and seniors can benefit from breathing techniques to calm the mind, energize the body and brain and help with better sleep. Since there are so many reasons to improve your breathing behaviors and habits let’s dive deeper into a technique that can transform your health and life.
Breath of Fire Basics
I first experienced detailed breathwork at a wellness seminar in Maui, Hawaii in 1995. The yogi who taught us shared different pranayama breathing techniques and helping to boost our kundalini energy. We also learned about the benefits of the specific chant, gong, mantras, meditation, mudras, music, and yoga. He trained us on Breath of Fire and Breath Walking which were absolutely amazing experiences. Many of these profound practices have continued to strengthen and support me on my health journey.
Breath of Fire is a breath technique used as a foundation practice in Kundalini Yoga. It can be used with many poses and postures and offers many health benefits. Mastering our breath is key to our health and possibly even our wealth. For many people, maintaining their health is a new measure of wealth. It is extremely important to learn and practice breathing techniques in order to activate them easily and effectively. A small shift in our breathing patterns can produce a giant change in our awareness, energy, mood, and perceptions.
Breath of Fire is easy to do and easy to learn. Like anything in life, the key is just doing it and then judge the results. Do it for 21 days and if you like what you experience continue doing it until it becomes a healthy habit.
The Seven Steps
- Begin by placing the hands in Prayer Pose and sitting up straight. This can be done sitting in a chair or on the floor.
- Close the eyes and roll them up towards the Third Eye (between the eyebrows).
- Begin with 30 breaths to become acquainted with the process. Breath in and out equally and rapidly through the nose only. Congestion is a sign to clear your nasal passages and sinuses. Many of our blogs discuss this concept in more detail.
- Then inhale and hold for 10 seconds. Relax and stay calm and still with your hands on your knees (palms up).
- Observe the natural flow of your breath and energy and your external and internal sensations for several minutes.
- Take a deep breath in and then exhale.
- Repeat this sequence several times.
Over time you will likely be able to do more breaths. Over time you may want to try different variations.
Breath of Fire Details
The Breath of Fire is a continuous, rapid, and rhythmic process. The exhale and inhale are equal in the effort expended, with no pause between them. It is normally done through the nose with the mouth closed, and with the tongue to the roof of the mouth. It is powered from the 3rd chakra (solar plexus). On the exhale, the air is pushed powerfully through the nose, by contracting the diaphragm rapidly. On the inhale, the diaphragm relaxes and the breath returns during the relaxation. During the process, the chest is relaxed yet gently upright during the breathing cycle. Also, the face, feet, hands, and midsection stay relaxed.
Start practicing Breath of Fire for a duration of 60 breaths or I minute whichever feels right for you. Over time you can increase the number and duration. Some initial dizziness, lightheadedness, or tingling may occur. This is normal due to the increased energy and oxygen flow. If you need to take a break, this is perfectly fine. The body will learn to adapt to the new combined input of energy, relaxation, and stimulation of the nervous system. Breath of Fire may not be ideal when pregnant or menstruating so check with your trusted adviser.
This breath technique will also help you become acutely aware of any nasal issues or sinus congestion. This is a great thing because we must also focus on other health practices such as healthy eating, holistic lifestyle, and hydration. Many people have sinus issues due to congestion caused by cheese, dairy, and milk products. Go to the Chopra website for more information on the how and why using a neti pot is beneficial. Changing our diet and properly cleaning our sinuses is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and this is something that is not normally part of our health education growing up in the US. As a result, many people struggle and suffer for decades with sinus problems which lead to substandard health and performance.
For more helpful information on breathwork, meditation and yoga go to the Kundalini Research Institute website.
Passion for People & Planet
The passion and purpose of Morningstar NEWS are to condense many hours of research down to two minutes of education, information, and inspiration for a healthy lifestyle and mindset. This blog shared the energy psychology strategies of Breath of Fire to help you be more alkalized, energized, and revitalized. It can help your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health in 2021 and beyond.
Next Morningstar NEWS blog
Energy Psychology A-Z: Breath Walking
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