ON BREATH AND BREATHING
Subtle Energy Breathing and Playing with the Channel
In the practice of Breathwork, we often use powerfully activating and cathartic breathing exercises and techniques to blast through blockages, resistance, and self-imposed limitations and fears.
We do the work of spiritually purifying our minds and bodies, and we clear away our early negative conditioning and programming. We open our channels of perception. We raise our consciousness and refine our awareness. And this allows us to develop a more conscious relationship with the subtle energy in the breath (prana/ki/chi/spirit).
Many advanced breathwork practices do not produce the best results until we have done some deep inner work. But once we have done this basic ‘house cleaning’ we can move into more subtle clearing and awakening.
We often teach these advanced practices to beginners because everyone learns at their own pace, and many people may be ready for advanced practices from the first day, because they have done other work that has prepared them.
One of those advanced practices is called “playing with the channel.” And I’d like to focus on that for this month’s article.
Put aside 20 minutes to practice, and leave the same amount of time to meditate and integrate afterward.
Decide on a number: 5 breaths, 10 breaths, 20 breaths… And begin with nose breathing.
Breathe in the nose and out the nose very consciously for 5, 10, or 20 breaths.
Then breathe in the nose and out the mouth for the same number of breaths. Making sure to focus intensely on the feelings and sensations of each breath.
Then breathe in the mouth and out the mouth for the same amount of time/breaths.
Then breathe in the mouth and out the nose.
Then back to in the nose and out the nose.
Breathe slow enough to focus on the details of each breath. Make sure your body is relaxed, especially your neck and throat and jaw and your forehead and face and eyes.
Equalize the time of each inhale and exhale. For example, four or five seconds in and four or five seconds out. And it’s ok to slow it down or speed it up—whatever allows you to fall into the practice more fully and consciously.
To explore this practice more deeply, refer to the article about the different ‘mouth seals’ (ma/pa, ta/da, ka/ga)
Good luck in your practice, and many blessings on your path!
