the Fountain breath
The power of the breath to transform conventional thinking
The power of the breath to transform conventional thinking
In February and March we explored breathing from the heart and the belly with the Focus and Emptiness breath. This month we will experience breath as it moves through them both in a full, complete inhalation. This breath will help you distribute prana, or life force, throughout your entire body.
In a chair or cross-legged on the floor, sit up straight. Close your eyes. Take a few normal breaths. Inhale and exhale all the way.
Now inhale in three even stages, with a pause after each one. From the bottom up, breathe from your lower belly and back, then breathe from your mid-chest and back, and finally breathe from your collarbones. When you come to the end of the last pause, hold and feel prana revitalizing each and every cell – then let all of the air out of you in one smooth exhalation. Pause and repeat.
If you feel out of control, take a few normal breaths after each round to readjust. You may want to consider counting the breaths: breathe from lower belly, mid-chest, and collarbones for three counts each, with a pause after each one, and then exhale for a count of nine. You can work up to inhaling for three counts of four, exhaling for a count of twelve. After you’ve practiced for a while, drop the counting and just feel your breath as you practice.
When you are finished, take a few minutes to notice the effects, with your eyes still closed. Enjoy the feeling of energy and vitality. Here are a few questions to explore in your journaling.
In a chair or cross-legged on the floor, sit up straight. Close your eyes. Take a few normal breaths. Inhale and exhale all the way.
Now inhale in three even stages, with a pause after each one. From the bottom up, breathe from your lower belly and back, then breathe from your mid-chest and back, and finally breathe from your collarbones. When you come to the end of the last pause, hold and feel prana revitalizing each and every cell – then let all of the air out of you in one smooth exhalation. Pause and repeat.
If you feel out of control, take a few normal breaths after each round to readjust. You may want to consider counting the breaths: breathe from lower belly, mid-chest, and collarbones for three counts each, with a pause after each one, and then exhale for a count of nine. You can work up to inhaling for three counts of four, exhaling for a count of twelve. After you’ve practiced for a while, drop the counting and just feel your breath as you practice.
When you are finished, take a few minutes to notice the effects, with your eyes still closed. Enjoy the feeling of energy and vitality. Here are a few questions to explore in your journaling.
What happens to your sense of time when you practice this breath?
Do you sense a flushing away of your fear? From what parts of your body?
Do you sense a reversal of conventional thinking within you? In relation to what?
Practice the Fountain breath ten to fifteen times per session, taking in more prana with every breath. You may find it helpful to keep a journal of what you feel like before, during and after each breathing session.
These breathing exercises are highlighted from the book Breathing Space by Katrina Repka and Alan Finger. They are gentle and safe, but please check in with yourself and follow your own intuition before doing them.
Want support in developing your breathing practice? Join me for my monthly breathing circle on Zoom to share what you experience with each breath.
Want support in developing your breathing practice? Join me for my monthly breathing circle on Zoom to share what you experience with each breath.
Namaste.
“The light in me bows to the light in you.”
“The light in me bows to the light in you.”