Although the following technique doesn’t involve hypnosis per se, it is one of the follow-up exercises I share with many of my clients.
Well, well, well. 2020 has turned out to be quite a challenging year to say the least. These are the times that can test our strength, our resilience, and even our optimism. But I believe they’ve especially challenged our capacity to skillfully take care of ourselves in body, mind, and spirit. If you’re like me, you’ve probably found yourself feeling overwhelmed at times. There’s so much information coming at us from all directions. I know I find myself getting caught up in all the hype on the news and social media every so often. I especially notice this by how it affects my body. As I’m scrolling along my Facebook-Emotional-Agitator-Feed, I will sometimes notice a tightness in my chest, or my breathing getting shallow. Or maybe I realize that my shoulders have slumped over, closing in over my heart center. This doesn’t feel good and it’s a sure sign to me that I need to take a step back and do something a little healthier for myself…and the world.
One of the tried and true self-care techniques that has always worked for me is simply taking some time to breathe.
Here’s one breathing exercise that not only replenishes our blood with life-giving oxygen, it also expels what the ancient yogis call “stale wind energy”.
Step 1
First, set the intention to engage in this short practice to increase the well-being of yourself and others. Then, sit up straight with a strong, erect posture. Imagine your spine being like a perfect stack of golden coins from your tailbone all the way up to the base of your skull.
Step 2
Take a nice deep inhalation. There’s no need to rush or be too forceful. Just draw your breath in with gratitude and appreciation, feeling your chest lift and your heart open as air fills your lungs.
Step 3
Now hold the breath gently. You don’t have to do this until you turn blue. Just long enough to savor the experience of power that fills your upper body.
Step 4
Exhale forcefully with an audible Haaaahhh! sound, until all the air has been expelled from your lungs. If you like you can add a visualization. Imagine you are expelling a dark mist or smoke from your body and that this cloud represents all the accumulated stress, anxiety, and worry that you’ve been unnecessarily holding onto. Then imagine the cloud dissipating harmlessly into the atmosphere.
Repeat this for three breaths.
If you like you can sit in quiet meditation for a few moments or longer. Keep in mind that this is not just a simple stress buster exercise but also a powerful spiritual practice. Done with mindful intention on a daily basis it can bring tremendous healing and transformation. Give it a try and share your experience in the comments.
