Boba Straw Breathing
Boba Straw Breathing
Extreme climbers describe summiting Mt. Everest like running a marathon while breathing through a cocktail straw.
When I first heard this, I found it horrifying. I’ve since run two marathons and the thought of only being able to get air through a narrow straw feels like drowning.
So when I teach this breath technique, and practice it myself, I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS envision a BOBA STRAW.
Boba tea is a drink from Taiwan – can be milk, fruit or tea based, with chewy tapioca pearls, or boba, added. You need a larger than usual straw to suck the pearls up. The straw is the thickness of a finger.
Boba Straw Breathing is one of the fastest acting on the nervous system, and using this visualization, it’s comfortable to practice, and easy to remember.
There are more complicated ways to teach the ‘longer exhale’ breath pattern. They involve counting and breath holds and are simply NOT as user friendly for beginners. In anxiety producing life situations like traffic, facing fears and difficult work confrontations, people need something they can do easily.
I’ve found children and teenagers especially respond to this visualization.
BOBA STRAW BREATHING DIRECTIONS
Relax the cheeks, mouth, jaw and lips.
Inhale through the nose.
Lightly purse lips around an invisible boba straw and exhale.
Repeat.
If you feel yourself getting lightheaded, shorten the exhale a bit.
This breath pattern should be done with a gentle face and very gentle effort.
It will create an audible whispery sound, like wind blowing through trees at a distance.
BOBA STRAW BREATHING BENEFITS
Activates parasympathetic, ‘rest and digest’
Improves focus
Lowers stress
Promotes a feeling of calm relaxation
Lowers blood pressure
Interested in learning other types of breathing techniques?
The Yoga Breath
Sitali Breath
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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.
