Breath Of Fire
Breath of Fire
* NEW VIDEO* Breath of Fire is an invigorating breath used to stimulate the body.
I teach it as part of a general yoga curriculum and I also pair it with any mat-based core exercise from Classical Pilates. I find they work very well together.
What I find very fascinating about this breath is that in the yoga tradition and the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), the belly is the seat of energy. When I see similarities across disciplines I know I’m getting close to TRUTH.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Brings alertness to the mind
Relieves energy slumps in the day (upon waking, later afternoon)
Cultivates vigor and vitality in the constitution (helpful after grief and prolonged illness)
Cultivates will power and self-direction
Purifies energy channels (nadis) and purges stagnant energy (prana/qi)
Stimulates digestive fire (avoid drinking ice cold beverages except when it’s scorching hot)
Assists awakening of consciousness
FEELING INTO IT
Relax your body and place your hands over your belly.
Purse your lips and say SHOOSH, like you were quieting people in a library.
Feel the movement under your hands – that is the action of the belly we are looking for.
PRACTICE
Now release the hands and relax the body.
Inhale and begin to sharply exhale from pursed lips, repeating the SHOOSH sound.
Pull the belly back towards the spine with each exhalation.
Breath of Fire is short and rapid exhalations–the inhalations happen automatically between the exhalations.
Try to keep the rest of body motionless, especially the shoulders, during practice.
Begin with 15 seconds. Work your way up to 45 sec, then 1.5-2 minutes.
Have a few sips of water afterwards.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Pregnancy
High Blood Pressure
OTHER TYPES OF BREATHWORK IN YOGA
Yoga Breathing
Boba Straw Breathing
Sitali Breath
Try it out and let me know what you feel.
Namaste,
Catherine
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Catherine Tingey
Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 33 years and teaching privately for 13 years.
About the Author
Catherine Tingey+ Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 33 years and teaching privately for 13 years.
