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Front Stretch Right &
Left. Stretch the left leg out in front, right foot against
the inner thigh. Stretch forward over the left leg and hold the
position. Breathe slowly and deeply. 2 minutes. Inhale, exhale and rise
up slowly. Switch sides. Continue on the right side. Long, slow, deep
breath. 2 minutes. Inhale, exhale and rise up slowly.
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Spine Flex.
Come up onto the hands and heels if you can. Otherwise, sit in Easy Pose
(cross-legged). Inhale deeply and hold the breath in and flex the spine
with the breath held in for as long as you comfortably can. When you need
to, straighten up, exhale and take another inhale, hold the breath and
continue to flex the spine. 2 minutes. Exhale, inhale, exhale.
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Navel Pump.
Still sitting on the heels or in Easy Pose with your spine erect, inhale
deeply, exhale, hold the breath out and pump the navel point in and out
for as long as you comfortably can with the breath held out. When you
need to, inhale, then exhale and continue the cycle. (This exercise may
make you warm—that’s good.) 2 minutes. Exhale, inhale, exhale and relax.
17-MINUTE BREATHING SERIES
(This is a 4-part pranayam. It is best not to move for the entire 17
minutes, so be sure you are sitting comfortably.)
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Breath of Fire.
Sit up tall with the hands in Gyan Mudra on the knees. Chest out, chin
slightly tucked in, eyelids closed, focused on the brow point. Begin
Breath of Fire. Be steady. Establish a pace that you can maintain the
whole 7 minutes.
To end, inhale, hold for
5-10 seconds, exhale, and relax.
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Long Slow Deep Breathing. Inhale deeply. Exhale. Continue long, slow deep breathing.
Inhale through the nose. Exhale through the nose. Make the breath very
slow and deep. Make the transitions between your inhale and exhale very
smooth as well. Don’t hold the breath in and don’t hold the breath out.
If you feel any laziness, push through it. Build up energy. Make
yourself breathe very slowly, very deeply, very powerfully. 5 minutes.
Inhale, hold for 5-10 seconds, exhale and relax.
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Mouth/Nose Combination.
Pucker your lips and inhale very slowly, as slow as you can, through the
mouth. The lungs are full of air. Exhale through the nose, and
continue. You are inhaling very slowly through puckered lips, exhaling
through the nose slowly.
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Breath of Fire.
Now do Breath of Fire through the nose, in and out. It is the last two
minutes of the whole series. Make it a strong breath. Hold nothing back.
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Deep Relaxation.
5-7 minutes.
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