The simple act of breathing can be a very transformative experience that fosters healing on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. The breath work experience can help us heal from traumatic events or processing trauma or emotional wounds. It can also help us fill our buckets with bliss, joy, beauty, and love. It can open us up to a new part of our psyches and our souls that we did not originally know was there. It can allow us to develop a new relationship to ourselves and the universe.
A Daily Practice in Breath Work
Breathing is our most basic means to life and calming our nervous systems. I would like to offer up this simple breathing exercise and meditation that I do regularly or when I am feeling anxious or stressed. This exercise fosters relaxation and a meditative state. I invite you to try it sometime to experience the tranquil effects of breathwork.
- Create a safe and comfortable space. I like to dim the lights and turn on my salt lamp. Burning candles or sage is also helpful to cleanse the room of any negative energy.
- Create a playlist. I typically like to create a playlist that ranges from 10 to 15 minutes. I usually pick out music that is suitable for meditation or yoga. Get the music started before assuming a comfortable position. Here are a few that are on my iTunes Apple Music playlist right now: Meditation Music, Powerthoughts Meditation Club, Spa Music Relaxation Meditation and Healing Meditation Zone.
- Find a comfortable position. I like to lie on the ground on my back. You can use a pillow to support your head and under your knees.
- Close your eyes and place both of your hands on your sacral chakra or right below your naval. You can place your hands on whatever chakra you like, but I typically start by placing my hands below my naval because it helps guide my breath.
- Bring your attention to your breath and inner world. As you close your eyes and begin to relax into your body, feeling the ground supporting you, start to become aware of your breath. Begin to focus your attention on your body and how your body feels as you bring in each breath
- Focus on deep breathing for 10 to 15 minutes. As you ease into your body and listen to the music, begin to practice breathing deeply into your belly. If your hands are on your sacral chakra, feel your breath enter into that charka. Feel your belly rise and the sacral chakra activating. I invite you inhale deeply and visualize bringing in bright healing Golden energy, holding in your body for a second or two, exhale and release, visualizing a black smoke representative of tension, stress, or toxins. This breathwork exercise is to help clear out any tension or negativity in the body.
- Let the music guide you. As you continue breathing deeply into your body and imagining that each breath is bringing in healing energy, let the music guide you. If your breathing pattern changes a little bit, do not stress about it. Let any expectations go and just focus on the music and your breath.
- Come back to your body. As the music ends, take your time coming back to your body. As you come back, just pay attention to how you are feeling. Are you feeling different from before? Do you feel lighter? Did any emotions come up for you? Just simply observe any noticeable shifts. When you feel like you are back in your body, slowly open your eyes and sit up. Remember to take it slow!
- Treat yourself! Now it is time to replenish your body, mind, and soul even more by feeding it something healthy. Indulge with kombucha, a fruit smoothie, tea, or have a small snack such as fruit or a granola bar—something that is grounding and nourishing.
Breathwork can produce different physical symptoms for different people. If you begin to feel a tingling feeling in your body or if you become dizzy, do not be alarmed, that is normal. Simply slow your breath and relax. I sincerely hope you’ll give this mediation a try! I have a video of me using this breath work technique up on IGTV on our Instagram check it out @flourishrx
