Hi everyone,

It's been a few years since I've been active in posting even though I've been lurking off and on and re-reading old lessons. I re-started FST 6 years ago on Beltane after a very long hiatus and thought it fitting that I re-start the new course on the same date this year. Happy Beltane and welcome to the new members. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the spring vibes.

I have a question about breath control. I've been using a meditation app called Bounce and I've been doing a handful of exercises that they do call Breath Control. They are as follows: 1) inhale 4 counts, exhale 4 counts 2) inhale 4 counts, exhale 6 counts 3) inhale 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8 4) inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold for 4 5) I've been doing diaphragmatic breathing where I pull in my lower abdominal muscles and breathe through my diaphragm and ribs. I find with these exercises after five or ten minutes I wind up breathing at my own pace anyhow. Are these examples of exercises I should stop doing?

I'm also taking a Dialectical Behavioural Therapy course where we do mindful breathing. In this one we focus on out abdomen as we breathe, but also the pauses in between the breaths. Is that ok to do at this point?

My gut tells me the mindful breathing is probably ok but that some of the Breath Control exercises I find stressful particularly 3 and 5, so I should probably not do them at this point. 1 and 2 do help me snap back to focus when I am really stressed or up in my head a lot so they're probably ok in moderation. 4 can be very relaxing after I've been meditating for a while. That's my take but I'm interested in hearing what the FST lineage has to say about it.

Thanks

Zephyr

Welcome back!

I am a certified Hatha yoga teacher and I do NOT teach pranayama. Altering breathing pattern is basically altering brain chemistry - people can get high from this (which can be pleasant at times) and believe that it is some sort of spiritual attainment. On the down side, pranayama practice should not be done by people who are prone to mental and emotional instability.

Some people have the attitude of ‘push through the pain’ which is all ego talk. I have come across people who have had severe panic attacks because they did not listen to their body and instead tried to keep pushing themselves to do breath control exercises. What’s worse - some of the teachers say ‘That’s a normal part of cleansing.. don’t stop.. just keep pushing more and it will eventually go away’. I disagree with that - it feels irresponsible and cruel.

In my opinion, it is NOT advisable to control your breath while dealing with K. Instead, simply watch your breath. Trust the wisdom of the body. Observing the breath is a very old form of meditation. Breath control exercises can worsen anxiety for some people and can also become a form of obsessive control. Goddess has it handled. Trust your body. Surrender is the imperative of Kundalini.

Namaste!
Gopi

Observing the breath is the foundation of all Buddhist (and Hindu?) meditation.  Even old timers do that.

And, Mystress has always been against pranayama, breath control.  One can accidentally awaken or arouse one's kundalini beyond one's capacity for managing it.  The classic example is Gopi Krishna who accidentally awakened his k while doing pranayama and spent the next 12 years thinking he was going mad before he found someone who could help him.

Thank you for posting, Sigmund and Gopi. I always found with those breath control exercises eventually I'd wind up breathing naturally and observing anyhow. That's good advice to follow.

Zephyr

Not surprised to hear how things go for you, Lady Z.  The body is smarter than we are, eh? 

What are "activities aimed at increasing energy?" And If Hatha Yoga is an exception, I imagine Relaxation/Yin Yoga might be ok too? It's basically passive stretching using blocks and bolsters to prop up limbs and body parts. I tried it once and found it really good for helping me get a good stretch, and even experienced some heart chakra opening.

Thanks

WZ

Quote from: Sigmund on May 03, 2023, 06:20:56 PM
Observing the breath is the foundation of all Buddhist (and Hindu?) meditation.  Even old timers do that.

It is funny, for years I did not teach it because I thought it was so well known. Then I was working anonymously and taught it to someone instead of grounding. Then I taught a few more people and soon realized, hardly anyone knew it and those who did were doing it wrong. So that was very surprising and I added it to FST around 2010.

  I have not varied on my stance that pranayama makes people crazy. Grounding is better, it is a sort of self-shaktipat that gives peace and clarity to surrender what comes up. 

  Observing the breath is the opposite of controlling it and the spontaneous pranayama when Goddess starts breathing you is amazing, no human effort can match it. Pranayama is made by people who thought they could. 

  Grounding in one breath is more about timing the visualization than timing the breathing, and the sigh of release after surrender is something the body does naturally, like taking off uncomfortable shoes when you get home. Shorter inhale, longer exhale is also a vagus nerve tweak for calming the body... didn't know when I wrote it. Goddess gets it right.

  Often while falling asleep I do a passive surrender, sitting by the river watching the day float past. Some things, my body spontaneously takes a deeper breath as it passes out of sight, and I know something bigger was surrendered. Very natural.