Breath of Fire

[Guest guest]

Kartar is exactly right. If Long Deep Breathing is practiced and mastered, then

Breath of Fire, which involves diaphragm's lower abdominal area, middle solar

plexus area, effecting the upper area of the lungs as well, is easier to

execute. While the focus of Breath of Fire is the compression of the navel and

solar plexus, where the expansion is natural, especially to the lungs and a

diaphragm system used to the full expansion of the lungs during Long Deep

Breathing, a powerful Breath of Fire also involves the even expansion of the

diaphragm in a rhythmic contraction of the diaphragm.

 

Breath of Fire is actually very smooth and easy to do, rhythmic, powerful -

involving only the diaphragm and a focus on the compression of diaphragm in the

area of the navel and solar plexus. While doing Breath of Fire, one should look

through the body to notice that the muscles of the body, - the shoulders, the

rib cage, the abdomen, the back, neck, face and so on are all at ease and

relaxed - (spine straight). In this way, the energy generated in the lungs and

diaphragm from both the purification of the blood and the pressure on the

nerves, flows easily and freely throughout the body and in particular to those

areas that expanding and contracting pressure from the posture or movement of a

Kundalini exercise or Kriya is focusing that blood flow and pranic energy.

 

Practicing Long Deep Breathing, where the full expansion of the diaphragm is

experienced -bringing air down to the lower part of the lungs with the expanding

of the abdominal area, mid area with the expanding of the chest, and upper area,

with the drawing back of the shoulders to expand the upper chest and lungs, then

the relaxing of the navel compression of the upper, middle and lower diaphragm

with the navel compressing inwards - also becomes a means through which the one

can become used to the rhythmic complete movement of the diaphragm during the

Breath of Fire.

 

Pieter

-

<Kundaliniyoga>

<Kundaliniyoga>

Tuesday, January 15, 2002 3:16 PM

Digest Number 1010

 

 

Message: 1

Sun, 13 Jan 2002 15:59:00 EST

Kartar001

Re: Teaching Breath of Fire

 

Looks like you've already got lots of good advice about breath of fire. Here's

just a little more--before teaching breath of fire, be sure that the student has

mastered long deep breathing. Be sure the student can control the breath to the

point of first filling the lower , then middle, then upper

part of the lungs on the inhale and the reverse on the exhale. I have found in

teaching over the years that the students who are having problems with BOF have

not mastered long deep breathing. This is the most basic breath and, in my

opinion, should be learned before moving on the more advanced and complicated

breath techniques.

I also agree with whoever said that BOF takes practice. It really does. The

beginner may have to pause take a few regular breaths and begin again.

Remember that women on their period should do long deep breathing in lieu of

BOF. It's an important point to make when teaching this breath.

Sat Nam, the other Kartar (Portland, Maine)