Using Euphoric Breath To Explore The Body

This was created for a workshop on psychoemotional body mapping - a way of reading the body and connecting with different themes and emotions through touch and words that comes from Transformational Breath, bioenergetics, bodynamics and more. You do not need familiarity with the map for this session as I offer guidance throughout. Just use the breath to connect with your body.

Photo by Arina Shilyaeva
Music by Chris Collins

Transcript

Hello friend and welcome.

The purpose of this breath session today is to give you a chance to explore some of what we reviewed with the psycho-emotional body mapping.

So we're going to use a euphoric breath to help us get into the body,

To connect our mind and body and connect ourselves with the sensations that are arising.

And as we stay with this breath,

I'm going to offer a variety of experiments for you to place your hands on your body.

I will offer affirmations so you can see kind of how they land or don't land for you.

And it's just an opportunity to begin to notice how this stuff shows up in your own body so then you can start to see how you can apply this in working with others.

So we'll work with,

As I mentioned,

The euphoric breath.

So what this is is also called a double pump breath.

So it's an inhale into the belly,

Inhale into the chest and just letting it go.

So it sounds a little like this.

And you can work with whatever pace and depth feels appropriate for you today.

This is your practice so I want you to feel comfortable and safe as you work with it.

Know that as we stay with this breath,

It can create tingling,

Tension in the body as different things move and arise.

Your mind might get very noisy initially.

As we stay with it,

It should start to calm.

And just know that there's no perfect way to do this breath.

There's just your way today.

So don't try to be anything specific with it.

As we move into the practice,

There will be the sound of a breather to help you pace.

If that works for you,

If it's supportive,

Go with it.

If it's not,

Feel free to ignore the breathing sounds and find your own breath for the practice.

Please be aware that this ecstatic breath is not recommended for pregnant individuals and I recommend connecting with your health care provider before working with this breath if you have any cardiovascular issues,

High heart rate or high blood pressure,

Epilepsy,

If you've had recent surgery or any major mental health concerns.

If any of this applies to you or you're just not sure or you just want a calmer experience with this practice,

Feel free to work with a simple coherent breath.

So an equal inhale,

Equal exhale,

Generally to about a count of five,

But whatever is most comfortable for you.

And you can still follow along with the body mapping practice working with that style of breath.

So this is just again,

Your reminder that this is your practice to do in the most supportive way for you today.

Now I invite you to begin to get set up to move into the practice.

I recommend doing this practice lying down as it helps create a deeper sense of safety and comfort for your body,

Which will help calm your mind as we work through this.

So setting yourself up in a space that gives you enough room to lie comfortably.

If you need a little bit of movement,

You're not going to hit anything.

I recommend not having a pillow under your head so you can keep your airway nice and open.

If you do want to use something under your head,

And then I suggest something small.

If you want a blanket or some support under your knees,

These are all options to help you get settled in.

If you need a little bit of time here,

This is a good point to pause the track to get yourself fully set up and come back when you are ready to go.

And as you continue to get settled in here to your space,

Letting go of everything that came before and all that comes after,

Getting really present here and now.

Anything you need will be there for you to pick up after the practice.

Beginning to connect with the earth beneath you,

The air around you,

Softening your gaze or closing your eyes.

I invite you to bring one hand to your belly and one hand to your chest and just begin to notice your breath.

We're not looking to change it yet,

Just to connect with it.

Feeling the breath,

Feeling the inhale and the exhale,

Just noticing what's present with you right now.

And when you're ready,

You'll move into this ecstatic breath,

The double pump breath,

Into the belly,

Into the chest,

And just let it go.

This can be done through your nose or through your mouth.

The mouth will create more activation faster and the nose is a little bit gentler practice.

The choice is yours.

Into the belly,

Into the chest,

And just let it go.

Connecting the movement with your hands.

As you begin to get into the body,

It is safe to be here and now in this moment.

It is safe to trust the body,

To trust the emotions that may arise.

Everything is welcome here.

All of you is welcome here.

Continuing to find the breath,

The pace that works best for you in this moment.

Into the belly,

Into the chest,

And just let it go.

Remembering there is no perfect way to do this.

There's no right,

There's no wrong.

Just your way today.

We're going to stay with this breath for about 15 minutes here.

You can do this.

Beginning to notice any sensations that are arising.

Continue to find your breath today.

How do your hands feel on your body?

It is safe to be in your body.

Notice what may have shifted or arose as I said those words.

It is safe to be in your body.

Does this ring true for you?

It is safe to feel all emotions that arise.

Notice what happened when you heard those words.

It is safe to feel all emotions that arise.

Continuing to stay with the breath as you observe your body into the belly,

Into the chest,

And just letting it go.

Now I invite you to bring your hands up to near your collarbone as we'll explore along the map here.

So beginning in the center of your throat around the sense of trusting the voice.

It is safe to trust my voice.

What does your body tell you when you hear those words?

In your own time,

Spending a minute or two here exploring out from there along the collarbones through the points of guidance,

The points of love,

Points of play and pleasure,

Strength and power.

Notice what arises in your system,

In your body,

In your mind as you move through these points.

As you bring contact aiming not to judge anything as good or bad,

Just to be present with what is.

Now I invite you to bring your attention back to your breath,

Into the belly,

Into the chest,

Just letting it go.

The breath for a moment here.

Now I invite you to bring your hands to the sides of your ribs.

You can hand on the same side or across your body giving yourself a bit of a hug as we connect with this point of belonging,

This physical connection with your hands.

All of you is welcome here.

All of you is welcome here.

All of you is welcome here.

Notice what arises with the touch of those words.

Notice what arises with the touch of those words,

Thoughts,

Sensations.

Just notice.

Continuing to stay with that breath into the belly,

Into the chest and just let it go.

Staying present with the sensations arising in your system,

Any emotions,

Any thoughts.

All of you is welcome here.

I invite you to move your hands down to the sides of your waist,

Sense of power and strength.

Notice what happens as you bring this touch here.

It arises.

How does your body feel against your hand?

Is it a comfortable touch?

Do you find tension in your body?

What do you notice?

Remember we're not aiming to judge anything as good or bad,

Just to be present with what is.

Notice if anything shifts as you stay here for a moment.

It is safe to be in my power.

I can stand in my strength.

And as we move into the last few minutes with this ecstatic breath,

I invite you to place your hands on either side of your lower abdomen,

Connecting with those areas of pleasure and play.

See how this feels.

If it feels good,

I also invite you to place the soles of your feet on the floor,

Bending up your knees and inviting in a little play,

A little rocking from side to side.

This can be guided from your body or guided from your hands and see how this feels to invite in pleasure,

Invite in play.

It is safe to experience pleasure and play in my body.

I deserve to experience pleasure.

I deserve to play.

Staying present with the sensations that arise,

Staying present with your breath.

Enjoy this moment.

Gift yourself the joy of pleasure.

And if it's uncomfortable,

Acknowledge that as okay as well.

Ask your body,

What do you need?

How can I help you?

And taking these last couple minutes,

Just return to a focus with the breath,

Offering your body any love and support that it desires in this moment.

Placing your hands where they feel most supportive for your body and just gifting yourself a little bit of love here.

I invite you now to release the breath,

Allowing your breath to return to its natural rate rhythm in and out through your nose.

Taking a few moments here just to rest,

To integrate this experience of the last 15 minutes with this breath,

Exploring the body through the psycho-emotional map,

Allowing yourself just to reset,

Reconnect with the earth beneath you,

The air around you.

Taking a few moments here just to be.

Staying in this place of rest as long as you'd like.

When you're ready to begin to move,

Being gentle with yourself,

Ears and your toes,

Eyes open if they've been closed,

Just letting yourself be.

Beginning to look around your space,

Reorient,

Connect,

Taking your time.

There is no rush.

If your body likes to journal or you want to make some notes on your experience,

This would be a good time to do so.

Thank you for joining me in this practice and in this workshop.

It has been my pleasure to be your guide.

Please reach out if you have any questions or if there's anything you would like to discuss and I hope our paths cross again sometime soon.