Breath of Fire

Breath of Fire: 

my mornings begin with breath of fire, Kapalbhati in Sanskrit, and it's a fast paced, rhythmic breathing technique, a pranayama method, that stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to prepare me for the day ahead. There are many benefits to this breath, including a quick increase of energy, strengthening the nervous system to help better handle stress, stronger lungs, and cleansing the body of accumulated toxins. It's also an important ritual for me, awakening my mind to it's creative potential, priming me for writing, and invoking inspiration through the channel of my breath. 

breath of fire connects me to my muse.   

this is done right before my morning meditation, it's preparation, helping me to be at once sharper in concentration, as well as more relaxed as I sit and begin silently, gently, thinking my mantra. It's been well over 20 years of this same practice, the breathing pattern a bit different now, but the ritual has been the same, serving me well as I haven't missed a morning of writing in all these years. 

it seems the breath invokes a higher inspiration. 

my breathing practice is three times a day, and therapeutically as needed. The first session, using the breath of fire, is to awaken me, to help prepare me for the coming challenges of the day, cleansing my mind so that I'm better able to receive fresh ideas and inspiration. In the afternoon I use a more neutral breath, one that's meant to level out my energy, reduce that day's accumulated stress and bring me back to center, allowing my day to continue with a greater sense of ease. The last session is devoted to a peaceful mind, unwinding from the day, casting my nervous system into a parasympathetic state of deep rest and relaxation. Every session is important, each one serves in some important way, yet this last one is vital in its role of leading me to deep and peaceful slumber. It's here that I shed accumulated stress, surrendering the energy of the day for a nights complete rest. Truly, it seems the next day's potential begins right here, before the morning's breath of fire there is a night still ahead, with the promise of rest and rejuvenation, and this breathing session is a means of its achievement. 

this is a seamless practice, each session leading to the next in a structure of importance, small moments of mindful breathing throughout the day, using a natural function for its highest potential of healing. Most mornings begin with the breath of fire, although at times I will sometimes use another, stronger, breathing pattern, this is how I start my day, devoting just a few minutes to a practice that offers so much value to me. The importance of this is understated, I am literally breathing the day's potential here, my response to how it all unfolds, vital measures of my health and peace of mind being breathed with these moments. 

truly so, it begins with just the breath. 

~

Peace, Eric