Welcoming the Breath
Breath is Life.
For as long as we live we breathe.
It is our connection from the inner space to the outer space
It is a direct connection between the mind and the body
It is the Pulse of life!
Listen here to a short Interview on breathing with Claudia :
Questions by Jördis Jakubzcick,
Somatic Movement Therapist and colleague.
The Breath can travel (energetically) through the whole body.
Physiologically, there are two main ways how to breathe:
In this film, I demonstrate two ways of breathing:
– High: upper respiratory system (lungs)
– Low: abdominal system (belly)
High Breath
Sports, sprint, fight and flight, Adrenaline, accelerated heartbeat.
The nervous system gets the message: be alarmed to run!
Enough oxygen to the muscles to make the system operate as fast as possible.
Then there is the High Breath of “shock”:
this happens by sudden shock or internal tension, holding the breath, and then suddenly letting go.
It can result in irregular breath rhythm.
In case the body is constantly breathing up high but not deep, it can cause Hyperventilation and dizziness.
Low Breath
Belly goes out with the inhale, abdominal wall sinks back with the exhalation, often deeper than High Breath.
Calms down the nervous system. Breath of letting go. Relaxation.
Application: Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Savasana
Gives the body the signal: hey, all is fine you can relax, there is time, no rush…
More on breathing and the basis for a healthy posture:
Look here for two examples of core strength exercise:
This film shows the connection of the leg extension to the base of the pelvis.
Breath support is Mula Bandha Breathing.
Activation of Mula Bandha helps engage and tone the pelvic floor.
It gives a sense of compactness and firmness to your pelvic base.
Connects to the Muladhara chakra.
This chakra represents being rooted – like being home, earth, sexuality. Basic Instincts.
Mula bandha breathing is the base for letting the breath / Prana circulate alongside the spine into the crown and back down
= the cosmic circuit
Becoming familiar with Mula Bandha breathing is an essential part of the training I offer.
It is the base and foundation for feeling safe, grounded, and connected in your body:
Pelvic Grounding.
Video on Breath Alignment Basics:
Here are two simple ways during everyday Life to get re-energized by the power of the Breath:
1) Breathing with AH!
You can do this sitting, standing, or lying down, whatever your current situation allows.
Let your jaw be loose, the tongue inside your mouth resting relaxed behind your bottom teeth.
Allow the inhale to flow into your body, don’t pull it in, just let it happen by itself.
Exhale on an AAAH and – this is the most important bit! – think of a positive Image / Memory / Situation that made you happy
Bring it in front of your inner eye together with the breath.
Be as concrete and detailled as possible with it!
You can use the same image or different ones, but make sure you let breath and postive image happen together.
Whenever your mind jumps to worry again or loses the image, on the next breath: repeat.
Practice this for 1- 2 min.
Notice the change in your mood and energy!
Credits to:
my dear Alexander teacher Ariane Dijkstra,
I received this Advice from her- and I believe she got it again from her teacher…wisdom passed on!)
2) Breathing with Pauses –))
You can do this sitting, standing or lying down, whatever your current situation allows.
Allow the breath to flow into your body, don’t pull it in, just let it happen by itself.
After each inhale, allow a pause of 2 beats to happen – you can count inside
After each exhale, allow a pause of 2 beats to happen – you can count inside
Simply by focussing on the flow of the breath, your breathing might become deeper and longer.
Counting creates space inside the mind and creates space between the thoughts as well.
Observe what’s happening to your mood and energy.