| Maybe you've come to the point in your life where | | | | 4.Hold your breath out at the bottom of your breath |
| stress is so consistent that you've forgotten what it | | | | and make sure you are getting every last bit of air out |
| would feel like to have a stress-free existence. | | | | of the lungs to remove excess carbon dioxide in the |
| And perhaps you're one of the millions of people | | | | body while massaging the organs. |
| diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or an | | | | 5.Rinse and repeat. :) |
| autoimmune deficiency due to the factors in your life. | | | | Then, after an appropriate rest and normal breath, try |
| (By the way, there was no such thing as either of | | | | Kapalabati or Skull Shining Breath: |
| these diagnoses in medical texts 30 years ago...) | | | | This particular breathwork is one of my favorites |
| And then again, maybe you're just one of billions of | | | | because I can actually feel the results of it immediately, |
| people in this world who would literally pay for energy | | | | and it can be done in the shower, in the car riding to |
| if you could get a shot of it in a bar. | | | | work, or when I am cooking supper. Skull Shining |
| But the incredible thing about all of this is that you | | | | Breath is one exercise that Amy Weintraub |
| actually don't need to pay anything to “get” | | | | recommends in her book, Yoga for Depression. I have |
| the energy that you need to live, to be well, and to | | | | trained personally with Amy and have read many of |
| thrive. The energy you need is truly already inside of | | | | her articles in Psychology Today as well as other |
| your body. | | | | prominent publications. This breathwork, Amy cites, is |
| According to the ancient science of Yoga, there are | | | | very effective for people with variousforms of |
| simple breath exercises (known as Pranayama in | | | | depression. Because it is mood elevating and |
| Sanskrit) that can actually assist with the symptoms of | | | | energizing, don't do this breath right before bed or if |
| general fatigue and – at least for me and many | | | | you are already feeling jittery. |
| of my personal students – promote total health | | | | To do Kapalabati Breath: |
| and wellbeing when complemented by an adequate | | | | 1.Inhale and exhale one normal breath. |
| diet, correct sleep and rest, and proper lifestyle habits. | | | | 2.Exhale forcefully through the nose, as if you were |
| The following are a few types of breath that can be | | | | trying to blow a bug off the end of your nose while |
| practiced for one to three minutes daily. Please note | | | | you are gardening. The belly button moves quite |
| that while these breaths can be practiced on their own, | | | | sharply back toward the spine. |
| it is best to combine them with a 1-5 minute rest in | | | | 3.The inhale will just come passively, you do not have |
| Shivasana following pranayama. | | | | to focus on it at all. |
| The first breath is known as a Full Yogic Breath. It is | | | | 4.Continue to exhale in these short bursts through the |
| simple and can be done just about anywhere. Begin | | | | nose for 3-11 minutes. * |
| this way: | | | | 5.Inhale when you are done, suspend the breath, and |
| 1.Simply inhale deeply letting your belly go completely. | | | | exhale completely and slowly through the nose. Do this |
| 2.At the top of the breath, suspend the breath, just | | | | several times. |
| hold it briefly to calm the nervous system and flood the | | | | And now would be a great time to lay down on your |
| body with oxygen, | | | | back, arms and legs out to the sides slightly. Cover |
| 3.Then let the breath go, actively pulling your belly | | | | your body with a blanket and your eyes with a lightly |
| button back toward your spine and squeezing your | | | | scented eye pillow. Just relax and breathe. And be. |
| abdominal muscles. | | | | |