Archive for the ‘pranayama’ Category

Journey to the Wild Divine

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

A somewhat more high tech means of reaching meditative states comes from biofeedback technologies. Although many devices exist, one of the most entertaining and engrossing I’ve found is the series which begins with The Journey to the Wild Divine.

The Wild Divine series is a group of rather sophisticated computer programs which provide a rather amazing and detailed means of monitoring internal physiological states during meditation. Provided with each of the programs is a biofeedback hand monitor which communicates with your computer via a USB cable. Events on the screen change as the physiological rates change in your body. The first two programs have a nearly video game appearance, and require that you find various locations in order to access the particular meditative exercises. The graphics which follow successful completion of each exercise are stunning.

My favorite of the three, though, is the last, which provides a direct series of tutorials on different meditative methods and different types of breathing exercises. Also included in this software is a heart rate variability monitor which allows for direct video biofeedback for this important physiological measure which many researchers claim correlates with heart health. This program is called Healing Rhythms. Another benefit set of this programs are the video instruction modules which include the likes of Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra. The ability to objectively observe the level of relaxation using the software makes all three of the programs excellent training tools, even for those who find meditation otherwise “boring.” These are all available for both Mac and PC platforms. Note I have no connection with the company or their website.

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Fourfold breath

Monday, July 27th, 2009

With this breathing pattern, you choose a particular count for each of the four phases of the breath. The number for your count must obviously be lower than the highest numbers in the threefold breath, as the period of time in complete exhale is usually not comfortable for as long as time spent in full inhale. This breathing pattern is quite relaxing and centering, in my experience.

Start with a reasonable count such as four or six: inhale to that count, hold the full inhale for that count, exhale to that count, hold the full exhale to that count. Slowly increase the number of the count as is comfortable for you. This is not a marathon, it should be relaxing and peaceful.

After daily practice for a few weeks, how does this compare to the other breathing patterns in terms of subjective experience during and after the practice?

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Threefold breath

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

The threefold breath adds a phase in that the peak of inhalation is held for a bit. Typically the pattern is to hold your breath four times longer than the inhalation, and to exhale for a time period double that of the inhalation. As an example, breath in to the count of 4, hold the breath for a count of 16, and exhale to the count of 8. If this is too difficult, then reduce the count of the inhalation, and then keep the ratios the same. Other examples could be 3:12:6, or later in the practice 5:20:10. Take it easy during practice: try to get full inhalation and full exhalation, but don’t strain, and don’t exhaust your muscles. It may take time to build this practice comfortably, and will certainly take weeks of practice to see results. You will likely feel warmer while doing this practice. Observe your experience during each phase, and monitor your impressions. Using a metronome may help the cycle be more regular.

More advanced versions of this practice include inhale through left nostril, exhale right, inhale right, exhale left as a single cycle. Start simply, though, and add these additional pieces slowly.

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Simple Circular Breath

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Back to breath for a few blog entries. Little is so primary to human life as the intake of breath to provide oxygen. The first breath exercise was to allow focus upon the breath without altering its natural flow. There are multiple breath meditations designed to utilize specific patterns of inhalation and exhalation to aid in the creation of meditative states of awareness.

This simple circular breath is perhaps one of the easiest of these methods, and one which we will build upon over the next few entries.

Sit down and allow thoughts of the day to fade. Observe the breath as it naturally flows for a few moments. Close your eyes.

When ready inhale slowly but comfortably. Make sure that first the abdomen expands, then the chest, then the tips of the shoulder. This full breath fills the entire lung space. Don’t neglect to expand the abdomen first. You will reverse this sequence for the exhalation and try to empty the lungs completely by pulling the abdomen in at the end of the exhale.

For this particular breath exercise, count the number of seconds of the inhalation, do not pause, immediately start the exhalation for exactly the same number of seconds as the inhalation. Again, do not pause at the end of exhalation, but start the next inhalation which should also last for the same number of seconds. The breath is similar to a large circle with the inhalation being half, and the exhalation being the other half, with no breath holds at any point. Always flowing.

How does this practice feel different from the earlier one? Do the results of practice differ?

Find a comfortable number of seconds for the inhalation/exhalation: don’t struggle or strain, and don’t slow the cycle to a point of feeling “air hunger.”

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