Guest guest Posted December 8, 2002 Report Share Posted December 8, 2002 Dr. Walt- Do you have that exercise written out? Can you share it here? I too have done breath work with my clients and have seen amazing results. The most amazing is when one female client claimed her breast lump disappeared during the course of the session. To practice this breathing exercise, lie down and begin with breathing through a wide open mouth- wide! Inhale fully, deeply, and when your lungs are full, move directly to the exhale- the key is not to pause, not to break the cycle. Exhale all the air but in half the time it took to inhale, sort of sigh like- like, yea it is Friday- in other words no forcing, no straining, no effort. After the exhale, move right to the inhale. Again, no breaks, no pauses, just one smooth continuous cycle. Now, this is the challenging part- keep everything else going, but when you inhale start deep in your abdomen and feel your abdomen expand with the air, then feel your lower lungs expand, moving up to the middle of your lungs, then the very top of your lungs as high as around your clavicles. When you exhale it should be like a balloon deflating, all areas that were holding the air should release together evenly. Then again move directly to the inhale, filling the lower abdomen, etc. See the cycle? This is a very powerful exercise. Start slow- 1 to 5 minutes twice a day is plenty. You may feel tingly, light headed or " buzzy " , this will happen as your body becomes adjusted to a higher state of chi and more oxygen is introduced to the body, especially the brain. People are sometimes concerned these sensations are signs that they are hyperventilating. You are not hyperventilating as long as you focus on the inhale, and make it stronger and longer than the exhale. After you have practiced this breath work, the tingly, light headed, " buzzy " sensations will diminish and even disappear as the body becomes accustomed to a higher state of vitality. Be Well, Misty. , <waltstoll@k...> wrote: > Thanks, Misty. > > I can recall teaching my patients breathing techniques and having people > attending my many lectures have an experiential exercise to try to convince > them that something simple could change how they feel. It was one of the > things that convinced my " colleagues " that I had lost my mind. I have one > that takes less than a minute and stretches only the intercostal and > accessory muscles of respiration to the max. The individual would then > notice, automatically, deeper breathing all the rest of that day with only > that one minute exercise. > > Namaste` > > Walt > > - > <mistytrepke> > > Saturday, December 07, 2002 5:53 PM > Breathe Through the Holiday Blues > > > > I thought this would be great to share. Enjoy. > > > > The holiday season is here, and many people experience big mood > > swings, and even depression, during this season. It is therefore > > especially important to stay in touch with your breathing to see > > what is happening. If you find yourself getting depressed you can be > > sure that your breathing will be shallow and lifeless, with little > > movement taking place in the various breathing spaces. If you find > > yourself in this kind of state, here's a simple practice from Dennis > > Lewis that you can try. > > > > The Stretching Breath > > > > In either a sitting or standing position, take an impression of how > > you are breathing. Just sense your breathing for a minute or two. > > Then put a smile on your face (whether you feel like smiling or not) > > and start stretching. Stretch slowly and comfortably in as many ways > > as you can, using your attention to direct your breath through your > > smile into whatever areas you are stretching. Do not hold your > > breath at any point during this practice! Just let your breathing be > > shaped and energized by the smile and the movements of your > > stretching. Be sure to stretch evenly in all directions--up, down, > > to the sides, through various angles, and so on. Work in this way > > for at least five minutes; then check your breathing again. How do > > you feel now? You can try this simple, safe practice as many times > > as you like during the day. Done on a regular basis, " The Stretching > > Breath " will help revitalize your breath and your mood. > > > > Copyright 2002 by Dennis Lewis. May not be reprinted for any > > commercial purpose. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2002 Report Share Posted December 9, 2002 Thanks, Misty. Stanislav Groff, MD, PhD proved that even when intentionally hyperventilating, if the fear factor is eliminated, the typical symptoms of hyperventilation are transitory and very mild at worst. Continue for 30-60 minutes and Additional States of Consciousness are the reward. I participated in some of his research at Esalen. This is similar to the benefits of fasting when it is voluntary and the damage when it is forced (see fasting archives). The breath thing I was alluding to is a combination of stretching and breathing to create deeper breathing, without effort, all the rest of the day. First stand or sit in a comfortable position and take as deep a breath as you can. Then, without letting any air out, relax all your muscles of respiration and wait a few seconds. Then you will find that, although you have taken in as much air as you can, already, that you can take more air in. Repeat the cycle until no more air can be drawn in (at least several cycles) and then throw your arms back from your shoulders, while trying to inhale more and you will be surprised to see that you CAN. Do that several times until no more air can get in and then the exercise is over. Be relaxing your muscles and not letting any air out, the muscles will stretch themselves over the bolus of air in the lungs. Once the exercise is over, with no more conscious attention, every breath taken for the next 12 hours will be deeper than it was before. By repeating the exercise twice a day for a few months, one could stop and the deeper breathing would continue for at least months. Most people, when experiencing the increased feeling of energy and well being do not want to stop--or, at least will restart when they see their benefits begin to evaporate. Not really a breathing technique like you were describing but so easy to learn and so little time for results that it can be a start for people not willing to do more. Breathing exercises and techniques are among the most powerful known to alter physiology and brain function. The problem seems to be that most people are convinced that they already know how to breathe and so will not try them honestly. Hope this helps. Namaste` Walt - <mistytrepke Sunday, December 08, 2002 10:08 AM The Power of Breath Work > Dr. Walt- > > Do you have that exercise written out? Can you share it here? > > I too have done breath work with my clients and have seen amazing > results. The most amazing is when one female client claimed her > breast lump disappeared during the course of the session. > > To practice this breathing exercise, lie down and begin with > breathing through a wide open mouth- wide! Inhale fully, deeply, > and when your lungs are full, move directly to the exhale- the key > is not to pause, not to break the cycle. Exhale all the air but in > half the time it took to inhale, sort of sigh like- like, yea it is > Friday- in other words no forcing, no straining, no effort. After > the exhale, move right to the inhale. Again, no breaks, no pauses, > just one smooth continuous cycle. > > Now, this is the challenging part- keep everything else going, but > when you inhale start deep in your abdomen and feel your abdomen > expand with the air, then feel your lower lungs expand, moving up to > the middle of your lungs, then the very top of your lungs as high as > around your clavicles. When you exhale it should be like a balloon > deflating, all areas that were holding the air should release > together evenly. Then again move directly to the inhale, filling > the lower abdomen, etc. See the cycle? > > This is a very powerful exercise. Start slow- 1 to 5 minutes twice > a day is plenty. You may feel tingly, light headed or " buzzy " , this > will happen as your body becomes adjusted to a higher state of chi > and more oxygen is introduced to the body, especially the brain. > People are sometimes concerned these sensations are signs that they > are hyperventilating. You are not hyperventilating as long as you > focus on the inhale, and make it stronger and longer than the > exhale. After you have practiced this breath work, the tingly, > light headed, " buzzy " sensations will diminish and even disappear as > the body becomes accustomed to a higher state of vitality. > > Be Well, Misty. , <waltstoll@k...> > wrote: > > Thanks, Misty. > > > > I can recall teaching my patients breathing techniques and having > people > > attending my many lectures have an experiential exercise to try to > convince > > them that something simple could change how they feel. It was one > of the > > things that convinced my " colleagues " that I had lost my mind. I > have one > > that takes less than a minute and stretches only the intercostal > and > > accessory muscles of respiration to the max. The individual would > then > > notice, automatically, deeper breathing all the rest of that day > with only > > that one minute exercise. > > > > Namaste` > > > > Walt > > > > - > > <mistytrepke> > > > > Saturday, December 07, 2002 5:53 PM > > Breathe Through the Holiday Blues > > > > > > > I thought this would be great to share. Enjoy. > > > > > > The holiday season is here, and many people experience big mood > > > swings, and even depression, during this season. It is therefore > > > especially important to stay in touch with your breathing to see > > > what is happening. If you find yourself getting depressed you > can be > > > sure that your breathing will be shallow and lifeless, with > little > > > movement taking place in the various breathing spaces. If you > find > > > yourself in this kind of state, here's a simple practice from > Dennis > > > Lewis that you can try. > > > > > > The Stretching Breath > > > > > > In either a sitting or standing position, take an impression of > how > > > you are breathing. Just sense your breathing for a minute or two. > > > Then put a smile on your face (whether you feel like smiling or > not) > > > and start stretching. Stretch slowly and comfortably in as many > ways > > > as you can, using your attention to direct your breath through > your > > > smile into whatever areas you are stretching. Do not hold your > > > breath at any point during this practice! Just let your > breathing be > > > shaped and energized by the smile and the movements of your > > > stretching. Be sure to stretch evenly in all directions--up, > down, > > > to the sides, through various angles, and so on. Work in this way > > > for at least five minutes; then check your breathing again. How > do > > > you feel now? You can try this simple, safe practice as many > times > > > as you like during the day. Done on a regular basis, " The > Stretching > > > Breath " will help revitalize your breath and your mood. > > > > > > Copyright 2002 by Dennis Lewis. May not be reprinted for any > > > commercial purpose. > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.