the Pendulum breath
The power of the breath to balance the inner and outer worlds
The power of the breath to balance the inner and outer worlds
To begin, sit in a comfortable cross-legged position or in a chair. Place the backs of your hands on your knees and make gentle fists. Lengthen your spine, relax your shoulders, close your eyes, and take a few moments to observe your breath.
Now open your right fist, and as you inhale feel the breath moving into your right nostril. At the end of the inhalation, close your right-hand; open your left fist, and feel the breath moving out of your left nostril.
Keeping your left-hand open as you inhale, feel the breath moving into your left nostril. Close your left hand, open your right fist, and exhale through your right nostril. This completes one round of the Pendulum breath. Begin a new round by breathing in through the right nostril.
Practice at least six rounds, more if your mind is particularly busy. Try to make the length of your breaths even. Feel yourself returning to the center of yourself all along your spine, like a pendulum coming to rest, insulated from the outside world as you practice.
Finish by breathing out of the right nostril, keeping the backs of your hands on your knees. Open both fists and lightly touch the thumb and first finger of each hand together to make a circle. Keep your eyes closed and sit in the stillness for five minutes, longer if you can. Try to absorb yourself completely in the experience, floating in spaciousness and feeling the wholeness at the core of your being.
Now place your hands together in front of your heart as if for prayer, and rub your palms very gently against each other. Hold your hands about an inch apart and feel the radiant energy flowing between them.
Bring up your palms gently to your face and cover your eyes, moving them downward to the back of your neck, placing them there one on top of the other, and then one on top of the other at your throat, your heart, your navel, and your pubic line; finally releasing your hands, running them all the way down your legs to rest over the soles of your feet.
Bow your head and slowly open your eyes, first gazing at a point on the floor, then gradually expanding your awareness to take in the room where you’re sitting.
To end this session, return to normal breathing now. Here are a few questions for your consideration as you continue to practice the Pendulum breath this month:
Now open your right fist, and as you inhale feel the breath moving into your right nostril. At the end of the inhalation, close your right-hand; open your left fist, and feel the breath moving out of your left nostril.
Keeping your left-hand open as you inhale, feel the breath moving into your left nostril. Close your left hand, open your right fist, and exhale through your right nostril. This completes one round of the Pendulum breath. Begin a new round by breathing in through the right nostril.
Practice at least six rounds, more if your mind is particularly busy. Try to make the length of your breaths even. Feel yourself returning to the center of yourself all along your spine, like a pendulum coming to rest, insulated from the outside world as you practice.
Finish by breathing out of the right nostril, keeping the backs of your hands on your knees. Open both fists and lightly touch the thumb and first finger of each hand together to make a circle. Keep your eyes closed and sit in the stillness for five minutes, longer if you can. Try to absorb yourself completely in the experience, floating in spaciousness and feeling the wholeness at the core of your being.
Now place your hands together in front of your heart as if for prayer, and rub your palms very gently against each other. Hold your hands about an inch apart and feel the radiant energy flowing between them.
Bring up your palms gently to your face and cover your eyes, moving them downward to the back of your neck, placing them there one on top of the other, and then one on top of the other at your throat, your heart, your navel, and your pubic line; finally releasing your hands, running them all the way down your legs to rest over the soles of your feet.
Bow your head and slowly open your eyes, first gazing at a point on the floor, then gradually expanding your awareness to take in the room where you’re sitting.
To end this session, return to normal breathing now. Here are a few questions for your consideration as you continue to practice the Pendulum breath this month:
What truth percolates up from the inside to be shared in the world as you practice this breath?
How long can you sit in silence after you practice the Pendulum breath?
What other changes in your body/mind/spirit do you notice?
Practice the Pendulum breath for 5-20 minutes as often as you like. 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.”