Welcome to this Lion's Breath Pranayama practice.
This track is designed to help you release feelings of anger or tension from the body.
When we hold on to anger within our physical being,
It causes stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline to surge within the body.
And having these hormones in a chronically elevated state puts us at risk for physical complications such as elevated blood pressure and muscle tension and emotional risks such as anxiety,
Depression or emotional numbness.
Anger can be an invaluable tool when harnessed correctly by helping us to protect our emotional boundaries,
Motivating us towards action and helping us to enact change where we see it is needed.
This practice is in no way designed to dismiss your feelings of anger,
But rather to help you take some of that charge out of your body so that you can channel it in a more mindful way as you see fit.
The practice we'll be doing today is called the Lion's Breath.
You may already be familiar with this pranayama technique or it may be your first time.
Whatever your level of experience,
I'd like you to begin by sitting cross-legged and closing your eyes.
Take a deep breath in and hold it at the top of the inhale.
Next,
I'd like you to set an intention of releasing tension or anger from your body.
See that intention clearly in your mind's eye for a moment and then go ahead and exhale completely.
In order to maximize the effectiveness of this technique,
We'll move into lion's pose.
So go ahead and move from the seated cross-legged position into a kneeling position with the knees together and the feet slightly apart.
Now gently sit back onto your heels,
Keep your spine straight and relaxed,
And rest your hands on your thighs with the palms facing down.
Next,
Take another deep inhale,
And as you exhale,
Open your mouth wide,
Extend your tongue out,
And bring your gaze upwards towards your third eye.
As you exhale,
You'll want to allow yourself to be audible and vocal,
Letting out a AHHHH sound to release the tension.
Now relax and return your face to neutral on the next inhalation,
Allowing your neck,
Chest,
And hands to relax.
On the exhale,
You can move back into the lion's breath.
At your own pace,
Go ahead and repeat until you've completed 8 more rounds.
Remember to let your exhale be forceful.
Allow yourself to surrender completely to the breath without regard to how you look while practicing.
After you've completed your last round,
Go ahead and mindfully take a few regular inhales and exhales to transition back to the rest of your day.
Lion's breath is a powerful tool that can help you tap into your inner strength,
Confidence,
And courage.
I hope you leave this practice feeling more centered and enjoying the feeling of less tension within your body.
May you carry this feeling with you into the rest of your day.
