A Balanced Breath

Managing our breath can alter the physiological response in our body. Slower, lower breaths have been shown to help with all the good stuff going on inside, especially when it comes to our nervous system. This practice is based on a breathwork technique called Sama Vritti or equal/balanced breathing which is a brilliant and really simple tool for relaxation. You’ll check into what your own natural breath rhythm is, then we’ll have a little play with the length of breath cycles.

Transcript

Find a sense of grounding all through the body.

Root down especially through anywhere that's in contact with the floor or any furniture beneath you.

Feeling that sense of dropping in of steadiness.

Now the eyes to close or the gaze be soft.

And let your breath just be gentle,

No forcing or changing it.

Feel how the exhale allows a sense of ease to move all through the body.

Becoming aware of the left and the right sides of the body.

Does it feel like one shoulder is lifted a bit higher than the other?

Is the weight settled evenly between both sit bones?

Do you find yourself naturally tipping slightly forwards or slightly backwards?

Perhaps taking a bit of gentle movement or adjustments.

Just define that centre and find that length through the spine.

As the body settles start to pay attention to the breath without any change to it.

Start to observe that natural flow.

The breath in through the nose and the soft exhalation.

Notice that slight pause as the breath transitions between the inhale and the exhale.

Now just coming to count silently in your head.

The length of the breath in and the length of the breath out.

Noticing if one is shorter,

Quicker than the other.

And seeing now if you can just come to match them.

Perhaps you breathe in for three and out for three.

Maybe that count is four or five.

Whatever it is just keep it comfortable.

That natural flow of the breath.

As you settle into that equal balanced breath you might find that you want to add a single count.

Maybe taking it from three to four or from four to five.

If in doing that it starts to force or change the breath too much.

Just bring it back to whatever it was.

Whatever's the most important thing.

Taking a final balanced breath.

Before taking a slower,

Fuller breath in and releasing it with a sigh.

Moving the awareness away from the breath back into the body.

Taking a gentle movement side to side or front to back.

Whenever you are ready.

Coming out of the practice.

Reviews

Thank you for this quiet and affirming, peaceful breath work.