Winged Breath

Breathe gently and slowly in and out through your nose all the way through this exercise. The Winged Breath gives you the opportunity to concentrate on the often-neglected LOWER, LATERAL areas of your lungs. As always, CONTINUE ONLY AS LONG AS YOU CAN HOLD YOUR CONCENTRATION AND YOU FEEL COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE. Eyes open for now.

1. Stand (or sit) with your feet hip–distance apart, toes pointed forward. It is important to keep your shoulders down and relaxed at all times. ONLY THE ELBOWS MOVE, floating up as you breathe in and down as you breathe out.
2. Join your palms in front of your chest, with your elbows resting near your sides. Your hands never move during the exercise.
3. Empty first. Then take a full and gentle breath, floating your elbows up for as long as you are breathing in.
4. Float your elbows down as you breathe out.

THE LENGTH OF YOUR BREATH ALWAYS DICTATES THE LENGTH OF YOUR MOVEMENT. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

Sleeping with Monsters

Your sleeping body sheds copious amounts of dead skin cells because that’s what skin must do to keep you looking fresh and beautiful. To make matters worse, you are not able to be careful about your breathing when you sleep. Mouth open and all that.

Your skin cells are everywhere in your bedroom. So are the microscopic dust mites that feed on them and grow fat. Remember, Mother Nature doesn’t waste much. Mites survive because humans and their pets shed and, as thanks, they irritate your respiratory system because humans are super sensitive to proteins left behind in the mites’ feces.

Mites are microscopic, eight-legged, spiderlike, sightless super ugly critters that would be great in a horror film if they were as big as a cow. They eat. They poop. You cough. No symbiosis here.

They thrive by the millions in dusty, dark, humid, warm places. STARVE THEM OUT!

A perfect bedroom is bright, cool and dry without upholstered furniture and clutter (sorry, kids). If possible replace your carpet with flooring that can be wet-mopped. If you can’t bear to part with your lovely new bedroom rug, then steam clean it often. Shutters or blinds are better than drapes.

Vacuum and dust thoroughly at LEAST once a week. Wash your bedding OFTEN in HOT water. Keep pets and food out of the bedroom or at least bathe your pets frequently. Sweet dreams.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

The Two O’clock Crash

Two o’clock in the afternoon, Monday through Friday, is a dreadful time of day for most of us. Your body is busy digesting lunch and couldn’t give a flying fig about your report deadline. If you had any caffeine or sugar at lunch you are probably crashing about now from that very brief high. And yet you are still facing hours of appearing brilliant and perky. That’s what you get paid for.

Eat a lighter lunch. You are not a lumberjack (apologies if you are). Drink plenty of water. Coffee and sodas definitely do not count. Movement is king. Move your legs. Take a quick walk down the hall or on the stairs.

Move your diaphragm (no, I did not say remove your diaphragm). Without straining, gently blow out all your air, relax your abdomen and breathe in deeply and slowly. Stretch arms and legs. Remember your leg/bottom muscles and your diaphragm act as secondary hearts to deliver oxygen and keep your blood moving.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

Review #1

Define a “single breath cycle.”
One inhalation + a comfortable pause (full) + one exhalation + a comfortable pause (empty) = one cycle or one breath. A pause is not forced in any way but rather a natural turning point in the cycle. The air (as Nature intended) can change direction smoothly without jamming on the brakes.

Does attitude matter?
Of course. Breathing training is delicate, powerful, complicated, important and joyous work. You will be richly rewarded if you approach your studies with a sense of humility, respect and gratitude for your potential. Actually that’s a good way to approach all living beings.
Ancient Wisdom: Man stands in his own shadow and wonders why it is dark.

What should I be feeling as I do breathing exercises?
There is never a need for even the slightest physical or psychological discomfort with advanced breathing training. If you ever feel uncomfortable or apprehensive during an exercise, STOP. Re-evaluate your technique and your feelings. Begin again only when you feel completely comfortable.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

LINK: Review #2

Healing Yourself

Will mindful breathing exercises make you well? Probably the better question is, “Will mindful breathing exercises prevent you from becoming ill”? Estimating the number of times you have dodged illness through your own efforts can only be measured statistically, but trust your instincts and your common sense as you puzzle over the question.

Can you use your mindful breathing to heal yourself? You honor your mind, body and spirit by making the effort. Since breathing is directly related to every aspect of your being, then breathing becomes a practical way to set up a dialog with mind, body and spirit. The final outcome of a problem may not be yours to decide, but conscious breathing will help to focus your clearest brightest light on the challenge. Be not like the child who kept digging up a seed he had planted to see if it was growing yet.

Gathering and Giving to Yourself

1. Breathe slowly, quietly and deeply. With each inhalation imagine that you can draw energy from a universal source into your hands.
2. When your hands begin to feel warm, lay them on the area of your body that seems weak.
3. With each inhalation continue to bring light and energy, a powerful force, into your hands.
4. With each exhalation, energy flows easily from you hands into your body.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.