Breath of fire.

[Guest guest]

I have read the explanations of breath of fire but still dont know if

I have it right, this is how I have been doing it, please tell me if I

am doing it right. I do it exactly like the long deep breathing,

filling my entire lung capacity from my tummy to my chest, only

instead of simply breathing long deep and gentle I do it fast and

slightly forcful, by sucking the air in and then pushing it out

rapidly creating kind of a Over oxygenation effect on myself causing

slight euphoria. Is this right? Thanks ~Ron

[Guest guest]

Hi Ron!

 

well, what you describe sounds like a form of

rapid cannonbal breathing to me,

and is definitely not Breath of Fire.

 

In Breath of Fire the Diaphragm is used.

You will not Over oxygenate! The Upper Rib Cage,

the muscles of the shoulders are not used at all.

When you start you inhale deeply, but then

the movement is done wiht the diaphragm only.

be sure to use the whole length of the diaphragm

or at least work up to a full movement of

the diaphragm.

 

Sat Nam

 

Guru Shabd (Duesseldorf, Germany)

 

p.s.: Here's a document by Pieter again, i can not describe it better

myself:

 

 

HOW TO DO BREATH OF FIRE?

 

The main thing for breath of fire is that it is done

properly, using the whole length of the diaphragm going evenly in

with pressure

on the navel and solar plexus, and out, where the lower, middle and

upper areas

of the diaphragm project out.

To feel the inhalation aspect of the outward distending diaphragm,

you might

want to try to sniff some air in and feeling it

through the lungs evenly, suspend the breath, as though you were

still inhaling,

but without the continuation of the filling of the upper clavicular

area, as

with LDB.

You should feel a sensation all along the diaphragm, that may even be

felt in the face, brow and crown, like a radiation. Then compress the

diaphragm

inwards, without squeezing the air out completely, as with LDB or,

moreso,

kapalabati at the navel and solar plexus.

After doing this sniffing in,

suspension and contracting back a few times, so that you can feel the

length and

breadth of the diaphragm and like one side of a board that opens

evenly in a

bellows, begin to expand and contract the diaphragm rhythmically,

then begin to

add more speed and power to the breath, evenly expanding and

contracting.

Often people will do the breath of fire using just the upper area of

the diaphragm,

and even try to use the rib cage and shoulders to act as a pumping

mechanism, or

they may focus on just moving the navel, or they may mistakenly pump

the navel

with an inward force, relaxing the breath on the inhale, similar to

kapalabati.

None of these is correct or a substitute for breath of fire done, as

described

above with the even full length of the diaphragm expanding and

contracting

rhythmically with increasing power.

The speed and power of the breath of fire depends on the capacity and

development of the student / practitioner. Some may take quite some

time to get

it right, others will get it right from the beginning. Others will

get it right,

but it will take time to be able to do the breath with speed and

power.

All this to say that so long as you are aware that everyone is doing

the breath

properly, the rhythm power and speed are up to the

practitioner's capability. It's better to do it right and develop the

right

breathing habit than do it wrong, and not receive the full benefit of

the

leverage that breath of fire brings to the kundalini yoga exercise,

set, kriya,

meditation.

In our classes here in Bangkok, we start the classes first with an

exercise in long deep breathing, which also assists in discovering

the fill

length and capacity of the diaphragm and then we do an exercise,

variations as

described above, in breath of fire.

As these 2 pranayamas are the prerequisite

for gaining the full benefit of kundalini yoga exercises and full

vibratory

effect of mantras, we practice these first. It also brings the mind

into a clear

state of awareness, as the blood becomes alkali with the long deep

breathing

exercise, and electric from the breath of fire. With the mind still

and clear,

it becomes much easier to watch the flow of awareness towards the

movements and

positions in each kundalini yoga exercise and link that awareness

(which is the

universal consciousness pervading and shining within each of us) to

the breath,

which in turn further amplifies the flow of (cosmic) energy into the

areas of

the body put under pressure by the posture, movement or position of

the

exercise, or kriya, so that you begin to feel the radiance and flow

of prana

throughout the body and through the arc-line and aura.... merging

with the all-

pervasive consciousness.

At the end of the exercise in long deep breathing and

breath of fire, inhale deeply and hold the breath. The root lock and

neck lock

should be applied, as when you do these pranayamas correctly, there

will be a

great flow of energy prana circulating throughout the nervous,

circulatory and

glandular systems, and the locks channel the energy into nerves and

centers that

are able to carry a higher voltage easily, namely the ida, pingala

and sushumna.

 

As you know, root lock is the tightening or pulling in of the anus

and sex

organs to lock the anal sphincter muscles, while pulling in on the

navel

(arching forward the lower spine), which creates a triangulation

effect in the

area between the navel and 4th vertebra, called the Kandal, which

regulates the

energy in the body. From the Kandal, the energy will automatically

flow to the

base of the spine and upwards through the spine. In the beginning

people don't

feel this flow, but after a while the energy awareness is strong

enough that you

do feel it naturally.

The neck lock involves pressing the shoulders back and the

chest forward, which converts the inhalation holding the breath to a

suspension

of the breath, in particular when you also bring the chin back

slightly and

extend the neck upwards by sensing the atlas and axis (top 2

vertebra) and

pulling them back and up with a slight pressure, keeping the head

straight. If

you do this properly, the suspended breath will circulate, flow

downward to the

root lock and circulate easily up the spine towards and through the

brow point

and crown. Just a note that the pulling in of the chin and pulling

back and up

of the atlas and axis is slight, not forceful as we sometimes see a

soldier at

attention. When the neck lock is done in this way, you will also feel

the

shoulders, which you have pressed back, also arch back and seem to

lock

downwards. Try it and you will see what is meant here, and feel the

difference,

if you haven't been practicing root lock and neck lock in this way.

These locks

are important to assist in the easy smooth flow of the prana that is

generated

and released when you do long deep breathing and breath of fire

properly as a

pranayama on its own or in any position, asana or movement, or with

any

meditation or chanting of mantras, where the release of vibratory

energy can be

even greater.

When the electromagnetic field becomes balanced and strong, the

lower spine will arch forward pulling from within, the chest will

come forward

with an inward pushing pressure, and the root lock and neck lock will

pull into

place with a magnetic sensation automatically, and the whole body

will fill with

light.

While this is a long answer to a simple question, it is important

from

the outset of kundalini yoga sets, kriyas and meditations, to breath

properly

and execute the locks properly.

One other area of importance, is that as the energy is so much

greater,

when you practice properly, it is even more important

to be sure that between each pranayama or kundalini yoga exercise

that you wait,

pause and let the energy make it's complete release in the pressured

areas

related to the exercise, and then completely circulate so that the

glands can

secrete, nerves settle with the restabilizing of the prana and the

magnetic

field balance. Then you will also receive and experience the full

intended

benefit of the kriya and set and meditation you practice. The

difference of

effect from pausing between exercises and not, is enormous. You will

feel the

whole body radiating terrifically. Many students, including the

teacher, will

want to stay on long after the class and meditate in the deepening

stillness

that by itself draws you into the seer, until you suddenly realize

your Self as

the screen upon which and within which everything appears

 

Kundaliniyoga, "Ron" <lil_savage2002>

wrote:

>

>

> I have read the explanations of breath of fire but still dont know

if

> I have it right, this is how I have been doing it, please tell me

if I

> am doing it right. I do it exactly like the long deep breathing,

> filling my entire lung capacity from my tummy to my chest, only

> instead of simply breathing long deep and gentle I do it fast and

> slightly forcful, by sucking the air in and then pushing it out

> rapidly creating kind of a Over oxygenation effect on myself causing

> slight euphoria. Is this right? Thanks ~Ron

[Guest guest]

Kundaliniyoga, "Ron"

<lil_savage2002> wrote:

>

>

> I have read the explanations of breath of fire but still dont know

if

> I have it right, this is how I have been doing it, please tell me

if I

> am doing it right. I do it exactly like the long deep breathing,

> filling my entire lung capacity from my tummy to my chest, only

> instead of simply breathing long deep and gentle I do it fast

and

> slightly forcful, by sucking the air in and then pushing it out

> rapidly creating kind of a Over oxygenation effect on myself

causing

> slight euphoria. Is this right? Thanks ~Ron

--------------------

Yo Ron take it easy! What you are doing doesn't sound very

accurate or true to the "agni pranayam".

 

Breath of Fire comes from the "nabhi" navel center.

 

No noticeable chest movement, or tension in upper body.

 

Try to focus only the navel moving in and out with the breath.

 

Moving the navel in as breath is pushed out, breath goes in as

the navel returns out.

Most people get the breath pattern by focusing on the "pushing

out" aspect first.

If you are familiar with the hatha yoga practice called "agni sara",

it is very similar except that in BOF the breathing is active and

engaged while you pump the "agni center".

Do refer to the manuals if in doubt. Or get someone to teach you

over the phone where you can hear the sound that the breath

produces and give you some adequate feedback.