Lion's Breath, Release Breath

This release breath, known as lion's breath, is a great tool to release emotions and tension in the body when you are stressed, holding tension in the body, feel frustrated or restricted. It might feel silly at first, but you'll come to roar like a lion in no time!

Transcript

Welcome to this quick release breath. This breath is intended to help you release tension and an emotional release as well. And it's best used when you are holding stress in the body, When you're frustrated and feeling tight. So settle into a comfortable position. Seated is ideal for this one. Let your hands rest on your knees and take a moment to notice where you're holding tension right now. Is it your jaw, Your shoulders, Your chest? These are some typical places where we hold a lot. Just notice for yourself. We're about to let some of that go. So the release breath is officially called the lion's breath. And it's one of the oldest pranayama techniques in yoga. So one of the breath techniques. And it is maybe the most effective for releasing physical and emotional tension that is stored in your body, Specifically in your face, Your jaw, Your throat, Your shoulders. And I have to say it might feel a bit unusual or even a little bit silly at first. And that's actually part of it. In the deliberate strangeness of it that interrupts the grip of stress and it gives the body permission to let go. So how it works is you inhale deeply through the nose and then you exhale forcefully through your mouth with your tongue extended in a sound. So really sticking your tongue out and making a sort of traditional ha sound released on the breath so your eyes can go really wide or even really roll upward, And just it helps to picture this like you're a lion releasing a roar. And I know it sounds silly, But it'll be so helpful. And so sometimes we do this in a group and it can be really quite silly. But if you're somewhere private, Let it be loud. No one can hear you. Even if you are with other people, That's okay. We're all being silly together. And if you need to be quiet because you're somewhere where you don't want to roar loud, A forceful sort of whispered exhale can have the same effect. What matters is that sense of release. So we'll do it a couple times together. So take a deep breath in through the nose, Filling your chest and belly completely. And exhale, Mouth open wide, Tongue extended outward to your chin, Eyes wide and strong. And notice if something shifted. The first time feels the silliest. But maybe you're already noticing some loosening in the jaw. Let's do it again. Inhale. And release. Let it be full. Let it be loud and a little bit silly. We'll do two more rounds. Don't hold back. Inhale. Exhale. Thumb out. One more time. Hello. Let your face relax now. Soften your jaw. Release your brow and let's just check in for a moment. Take a quieter breath in and out. Just notice if there is a shift at all. Tension in the body doesn't necessarily go away without being processed, Right? Sometimes it just needs to be released and you gave this a go. Let's just take one breath together just to close it. And a gentle exhale. And I hope you can make the lion breath, Or just release breath, Part of your practice. Bye for now.