According to Yogi Bhajan, founder of 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization) and pioneer of kundalini in the West, breath is the foundation of kundalini yoga practice. Bhajan teaches that the most positive changes you can make in your life is to breathe deeply and completely. It is the most effective tool you can use to develop increased awareness, health and vitality. Prana-kundalini refers this breath force, which is the second of three manifestations of kundalini as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Each breathing exercise is intended to decrease the breath frequency per minute, because Yogi Bhajan teaches that you change your state of mind as you change your rate of breathing.
Long Deep Breathing
This technique is intended to calm your mind, balance your emotions and integrate your body, mind and spirit. It utilizes full lung capacity of the lower abdominal, middle chest region and upper clavicle region. This is a three part breath whereby you inhale and fill the lower abdomen first proceeding to expand your chest and then allowing the breath to fill the upper clavicle area. On the exhale, you slowly release the breath in the opposite order, emptying your lower abdomen last.
Alternate Nostril Breathing
This exercise is used to simultaneously energize and calm your nervous system. Using the thumb of your right hand, you close the right nostril and place your index finger close to your left nostril. You should fully inhale through the left nostril only. Then, close the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril. Continue and alternate nostrils after each exhalation.
Breath of Fire
This technique is meant to strengthen your nervous system, purify your bloodstream and increase vitality. It is a quick, rhythmic, continuous breathing technique practiced with your mouth closed. You need to push the breath with the area located above your belly button. You should breathe from your solar plexus, just above the belly button rather than the lower abdominal region.
Suspending the Breath
The breath suspension technique reconditions the nervous system, integrates the body systems and helps you experience deep stillness. To practice this correctly, you need to relax the diaphragm and inhale deeply while focusing on the area of your clavicle and upper ribs. With shoulders, throat and face relaxed, hold the air in while sitting still and calm. To do this on the exhale, fully empty the breath and pull your navel in toward your spine. While lifting your chest, hold the breath here and exhale a bit more if you can.
About this Author
Sala Saran is a bi-athlete and certified Personal Fitness Trainer who is passionate about the life transformative power of sports and fitness. Teaching a holistic perspective of the fitness lifestyle that is rooted in personal development, Sala Saran shares her expertise in articles, columns and seminars to lead others to a discovery of their own power to transform their life experience.
