To: K-list
Recieved: 2004/11/30 11:02
Subject: [K-list] Breath control
From: Gustaf Grefberg
On 2004/11/30 11:02, Gustaf Grefberg posted thus to the K-list:
In one of Mystress' links, there was talk about the dangers of breath
control, the difficulties that can come up from it without guidance. Heck
yeah! But I would also like to offer my own understanding and experience
about working with the breath, about what and what does not work. Feel free
to comment on this and agree or disagree about what I am saying as much as
you like. (Especially if I learn something new from it)
Several years ago I started practicing yoga very intensively. It came
together with my awakening and I took on almost any practice very easily and
spontaneously. But I lived in a very -forceful- reality. Everything had to
be fought and struggled with, internal as well as external.
Pranayama means "Expansion of energy", although it is commonly spoken of as
breath control (Many modern breath techniques originate from the pranayama
systems) I have practiced pranayama under expert guidance for several
years, and the instruction that is being repeated always is DO NOT FORCE IT!
Do not struggle with holding your breath for extended periods of time if it
feels even slightly uncomfortable. On a physical level, it can mess up your
lungs and heart, even cause damage to the brain. We want to use these
tecniques to help out these organs, not destroy them. On an energetic
level, you'll cause a mess too, anything from bringing up way too much
unconcious material (like Mystress said), to cause even more imbalances that
you had before. I've seen Kundalini yoga classes where complete beginners
are instructed to take inverted poses and practice bhastrika (bellows
breath) for extended periods of time. Gosh!
Pranayama is absolutely wonderful, if you practice it correctly. I was
taught first to understand my breathing. How to use the abdomen, chest, and
how to expand the breath in different direction in very simple, relaxing way
before even beginning with the more classical techniques. For example,
Bhastrika is a technique where you breathe rapidly, forcing both inhalation
and exhalation (normally only inhalation is forced). It has to be done with
a completely relaxed body, and using only the lower abdomen muscles, without
feeling any strain or discomfort, and in perfect rhythm. If you can do that,
beautiful. But I have experienced myself the effects of doing it
incorrectly, thankfully not too harshly. But when breathing is not deep,
relaxed and the muscles are not prepared, I tensed many parts of the body, I
used the chest, and the rhythm was irregular and somewhat uncomfortably. Did
I feel expanded? Nope. Did it bring peace of mind? Nope. Did it work on my
energy flows in a smooth and balanced way? Heck no.
But after finding guidance and learning all the aspects of the practice, I
can do it with absolute ease. I can do 60 respirations quickly, and then
perform breath retention and bandhas without any strain or discomfort. And
the practice feels good! That's the thing. In the end Pranayama becomes
effortless, even spontaneous. Have you experienced spontaneous Bhastrika?
Quite beautiful.. Often comes as a Kriya to clear things up. Goddess likes
to chose that for me sometimes.. Probably because she's noticed I have a
knack for releasing through it. =o)
Why? Because it has had the chance to grow, the body, mind and energy system
has gotten the chance to adjust. I read about breath techniques where people
do very intense stuff without learning any of the fundamentals first. They
say that Pranayama is like "Taming a wild elephant" You don't tame a wild
elephant by jumping up on it and trying to whip it into submission. Prana
and Mind are linked. And it becomes easy when practiced step by step, gently
prodding it in the right direction.
Anyways.. I'd be happy to offer what I know about pranayama to anyone who is
interested. I am not an accomplished swami or expert in it, but I will share
what I know and leave the rest up to Goddess.
Love
Gustaf
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