BREATH

After relaxing and grounding you are ready to begin RIDING THE BREATH...... Riding the breath has a relaxing and healing benefit and helps you get in touch with your essence and focus on the here and now.

 

Proceed as follows:

 

As you sit let your breathing become very slow, soft, and even like a gentle breeze or a slight  wave on calm water. Breathe from your belly and notice how your belly fills up with air as you breathe in and lowers when you breathe out.

Follow your breath and its rhythms. Observe how your breath flows throughout your body - feeding it, nourishing it...In-breath and out-breath - calming, soothing, nourishing....

Now, as you breath outward release any negative energies and tensions accumulated within your body - let it go - gently let it ride out on the wave of your breath...

Now as you breathe in let the life giving healing energies of the surrounding atmosphere enter into your body with the in-breath...

Breathe out gently tensions and negative energies - breathe in positive life affirming energies. Let it ride with the breath. In-breath and out-breath...

Let it go now and become aware of the rhythms of your breath again. Flow with it. Feel the energy within your body - tingling, warm, alive. Stay with it for awhile...

 

After you become comfortable with this method of riding the breath try breathing in for 4 counts, hold your breath for 2 counts, and release your breath for 4 counts.

Repeat this until the tide of inflow, pause, and outflow becomes part of your natural cycle of breathing. You may lengthen or shorten the number of counts according to what feels most comfortable to you.

 

TIPS

You may notice thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions surfacing. Think of these thoughts, sensations, and emotions as being bubbles - watch them rise to your attention. Let them be and they will float away. Do not become attached to them. Become the impartial observer. Look above and below these bubbles - they are fleeting things and will come and go. Let them be...Just refocus your attention on your breathing.