Hi my friend and welcome to our today's breathing practice.
It is a fantastic way to energize your body and mind and I often recommend it to start your day.
Ideally,
Practice it on an empty stomach,
So I love doing it first thing in the morning.
Remember,
It is best to avoid this practice if you're pregnant,
Menstruating or have recently had abdominal surgery or injury.
And when in doubt,
Always listen to your body.
Breath of fire involves a specific sequence of inhalations,
Exhalations and breath holds.
Let's break down the terms you will hear.
Pastrika refers to the rapid breath cycle of short forceful exhales through the nose with the help of your belly.
And inhales happen automatically and naturally with no force.
This is what we will be doing most of the time.
Suspension means holding your breath after exhaling.
It is like a breath pause at the bottom of your breath cycle.
And retention refers to holding your breath after inhaling but before exhaling again.
It is like holding the breath at the top of your breath cycle.
We will complete three rounds in total.
With each round we will activate the breath of fire for 30 seconds followed by a 10 second hold at the bottom of the breath cycle after exhaling and then a 20 second hold after a full inhale.
Now find a comfortable seated position.
Sit upright with a lengthened spine but avoid being rigid.
Imagine a gentle thread pulling the crown of your head towards the ceiling,
Helping you maintain good posture.
Close your eyes if it feels comfortable or soften your gaze if you prefer.
Take a few deep cleansing breaths.
Inhaling through a nose and exhaling completely through your mouth.
Feel your body relax with each exhale.
Take a moment to set an intention for this practice.
Perhaps you have a goal that you would like to ignite with renewed energy or a question you would like your higher self to answer through the clarity this practice can bring.
Hold this intention gently in your mind and let it go.
Once you are settled let's ignite the fire.
Send the air to your belly and begin short forceful exhales.
Maintain a rapid rhythmic but comfortable pace for you.
Imagine your breath stoking a fire within your belly each exhale pushing out stale air and each inhale drawing in fresh energy.
Complete a full exhale and hold your breath at the bottom for 10 seconds.
This is the suspension,
A moment of stillness at the bottom of your breath cycle.
Inhale fully through your nose filling your belly,
Ribs and even your collar bones.
Hold this full inhalation for 20 seconds.
Let your mind float,
Your thoughts melt away and enjoy the sensations in your body.
And now let's complete two more rounds of the breath of fire sequence.
Half breath in and let's start.
Focus on maintaining a steady rhythm and feel the energy building within your body.
Pay attention to the temperature rising within your body,
All of the sensations inside and outside.
Be in the present moment.
Exhale completely and hold your breath at the bottom.
Relax.
You can rest your attention in the middle of your head.
Inhale fully and enjoy everything that this retention brings you.
And let's start the final round of inhale and begin.
Notice how much easier it is to breathe this way.
We are almost there.
Exhale completely.
Hold your breath at the bottom.
Relax all your muscles and all the organs a little bit more.
Breathe into your belly and hold your breath on top.
Enjoy.
Perfect.
Slowly release all the air from your lungs with a complete exhale and allow your breath to return to its natural rhythm.
Allow yourself to settle into this clear and peaceful state of mind.
The breath work may have stirred something within you,
Perhaps a flicker of an answer to a question or a hint of guidance.
Don't force anything.
Simply be open to receiving with your mind,
Body,
Heart and spirit.
This answer may come to you now as a gentle knowing or it may surface at a perfect time in the future.
Trust that the clarity you've cultivated will guide you and carry this newfound energy within you throughout the whole day.
I invite you to visit my page to discover more breathwork practices and psychosomatic meditations and let me know in the comment section how was your experience during this practice.
Thank you for your presence and practicing with me.
See you next time.
Bye.
