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Season 1 - Episode 5

Simple Breath Awareness 3

10 min - Practice
40 likes

Description

We allow the breath to draw us deeper inward while examining the relationship of breath, attention, and prana or life force.
What You'll Need: No props needed

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Transcript

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Hi there, welcome back. We'll continue with letting the breath draw us even more inward, studying the relationship of the breath, attention, and what the yogis call prana. So step one, get yourself comfortable, snuggle in, settle, ground. Let your heart feel buoyant, and find the alignment of the skull where your neck tension is no longer necessary. Let your eyes rest gently on a spot in front of you, or let them close, whichever is more effective for you.

And then eventually tether your attention to the spot right in between the nose and the upper lips. The technical name of this is the philtrum, just that little divot spot, nice. With the same tenderness now as you've been honing, begin to tune your awareness towards the left nostril, feeling the movement of your breath in the left nostril. No need to force the breath in the nostril, just feeling the in-breath and the out-breath. Nice.

Let your awareness come back to rest, right in between the nose and that upper lip. And then with the same tenderness and gentleness, move your attention over to the right nostril. Care of the movement of the breath here. Of course you might notice that it's easier or harder to breathe in this nostril than the left. There are multiple comparative details that might reveal themselves.

Do your best to let these comparisons just wash on down the river, just practicing holding your attention steady. Beautiful let your awareness come back to rest right underneath the nose, right above the upper lip. And we're going to repeat this but with a few more instructions. Again, the purpose is just to study this tethering of the breath, the attention and the subtler energy of prana. So as you're ready, let your attention move back to the left nostril, being aware how it might feel as if you're now just primarily breathing in the left nostril, the sense that the breath has followed your focus.

Always again are soft or closed. And now see if you can let your awareness be even more specific. Can you come to the back of the left nostril, so closer to your face with your attention? And can you become more sensitive to this area? Let your awareness now move to the inner channel of the left nostril, like closer to the center.

Let your awareness come to the front of the nostril. And now let your awareness come to the outer channel of the left nostril. And now let your attention be right in the center of the nostril, just feeling the effect on the breath. Beautiful. Relax this tethering.

If it's useful, let your attention just rest right in that spot between the nose and the upper lip, pause. And if you're not ready, don't rush it. Sometimes when you've spent a lot of time in one area, so intimately, it can be difficult to move to another area as intimately. So when you're ready, let your awareness come to the right nostril, soft in the belly, soft in the mouth. And it's the same instructions.

Become more aware of the back of the nostril, seeing if it feels like the breath follows. Become more aware of the inner channel of the right nostril, closer to the center of the septum. Bring your attention to the front of the nostril, and then let your awareness come to the outer channel of the right nostril, and then right in the center. And then relax this tethering, and again, let your awareness just rest between the nose and the upper lip, resting in the effect of your attention to such small, rarely attended to details. All right.

All right. If your eyes have been closed, let your eyes tenderly open. Thank you.

Comments

Lydia Zamorano
Love these so much Kira. Your attention to detail, your sparkle, your love for us, and your choice of outfit. xoxo Always an inspiration. 
Kate M
3 people like this.
This really took me in deep. I could totally feel the breath moving in the nostrils - it wasn't just imagination. A brilliant exercise to illustrate the precept of "where attention goes, prana flows." Thank you KIra. So beautiful. 
Kira Sloane
Lydia Zamorano! Missing you. 
Kira Sloane
Kate! This is one of my main go-tos. Even works in the dentist's chair! xok
Joanne H
1 person likes this.
Kira,  Thanks for this series!  Also thanks for the live practice from your studio today. Felt good practicing with you live!
Kira Sloane
Joanne! That was so much fun. Thank you for being with us! xok
Kate M
2 people like this.
Was halfway through a relatively vigorous practice elsewhere on YA and just felt my energy kind of sliding... I really needed a long savasana, and to hear your voice! So sweet...
Sandra Židan
Nice and relaxing meditation! Thanks, Kira!
Kira Sloane
1 person likes this.
Sandra, thank you for being here and making these practice come to life. xok
Sara S
1 person likes this.
I noticed that my thoughts were quieter today. The brain had instructions to listen and observe.
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