 NEWSLETTER
THE YOGIC TRIPLE BREATH
Hello subscribername,
There are two breathing techniques in Yoga which are invaluable. One
is the triple breath and the other is the Kriya technique.
Both are much the same, except in the Kriya the first part of it is
counted as 12 seconds in and 12 seconds out and that remains unchanged,
whereas with the triple breath technique, what starts out as a ˝ second
count may well end up as a 3 second count, so that as you progress, your
inhalations may well be as much as 30 seconds or more, as well as the
exhalation.
This Triple breath cannot be done like that from the beginning as
very few people breathe correctly. For health, stamina, oxygen intake
and pranic energy usage, the triple breath is supreme.
If you watch how you breath you will see that the upper chest rises
and falls. That is the usual way most people breath. The lung is shaped
like a large pendulous lobe, with the greatest amount of lobe at the
bottom of the lung. This part is usually unused, thus by being a chest
breather, only a limited amount of benefit can be had.
For this technique you can sit, stand or lie down. Make sure you are
comfortable.
Placing your hands at the bottom edge of the rib cage, force all your
breath out and at the same time push your hands against your rib cage
forcing them inwards. Keep forcing your breath out until your stomach
and belly have been drawn in towards your spine.
This is the point you begin the triple breath from. Keeping your
hands on your rib cage let your stomach relax and take a breath low down
by pushing out the muscles of the abdomen, then next take the breath in
a little higher until you can feel your hands on your ribs spreading outwards, then next, bring the breath into the
upper chest. In time, the rib cage will spread a good 4 or 5 inches
outwards on either side.
After practicing this for a while it will all become smoother and
smoother. At first your muscles around the ribs will be a little sore so
do not practice too long. Stick to the 12-3 count. That is, take the
breath in for the count of 12 and hold it for 3 in. Then let it out in
the reverse order, chest first, then the rib cage, then the abdomen.
That too is 12 counts out and hold out for 3 counts.
Do this breath as many times as you are comfortable. When the muscles
around the ribs become tired, stop.
There is nothing to concentrate on with this breath, except slowly
over time, lengthening the amount of time you take to breath in and
hold, breath out and hold – but do keep your counts regular. For
instance when I do it, my twelve count may take 36 seconds and my 3
count may take 9 seconds. Everyone will be different depending on the
capacity of your lungs.
Why do this exercise? Because it is great for your health and well
being, but more than that you will utilize Pranic energy, plus you will
utilize it with self willed direction.
Pranic energy is light energy and it can be directed.
For instance, should you have an ailing organ in the body, after
doing this technique, you will be able to visualize that organ surround
and flooded with light energy. This heals. You can also learn to
“throw” light energy around someone else who is ill.
It takes time, it takes practice and it takes visualization.
This is the breath you use if you feel inclined to go without food
and only drink water as a cleansing for the body. You will have lots of
energy. Of course you must be proficient at it and the muscles must be
able to allow you to do about 4 hours every night of this 12-3 breath
– otherwise do not attempt long term fasting.
Remember also to begin any breathing technique with the cleansing
breath, that is:
Gulp in a full lung of air, then purse your lips and short hammer
blow expulsions, until you have blown out every last bit of air. Do this
three times only.
If you have questions – just write. The one thing to remember is to
get a nice even flow between the stomach muscles, the rib cage and the
upper chest.
Namaste.
Swami
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