Breathing exercises used in spiritual meditations and practices such as kundalini yoga are intended to align the mind, body and spirit. Spiritual breathing is used to experience a state of inner peace and tranquility. You change your state of mind as you change your rate of breathing, according to Yogi Bhajan, founder of 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization). The assumption central to spiritual breathing is an understanding of breath, or prana, as an extension of the life force.
Suspending the Breath
The breath-suspension technique reconditions the nervous system, integrates the body systems and helps you experience deep stillness. To practice this correctly, relax the diaphragm and inhale deeply while focusing on the area of your clavicle and upper ribs. With shoulders, throat and face relaxed, hold the air in while sitting still and calm. Fully empty the breath and pull your navel in toward your spine. While lifting your chest, hold the breath and exhale a bit more if you can.
Alternate Nostril Breathing
This exercise is used to align your body and spirit while simultaneously energizing and calming your nervous system. Using the thumb of your right hand, close the right nostril and place your index finger close to your left nostril. You should fully inhale through the left nostril only. Then close the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril. Continue and alternate nostrils after each exhalation.
Long, Deep Breathing
This technique is intended to calm your mind, balance your emotions and integrate your body, mind and spirit. It uses full lung capacity of the lower abdominal, middle chest region and upper clavicle region. This is a three-part breath in which you inhale and fill the lower abdomen, first expanding your chest and then allowing the breath to fill the upper-clavicle area. On the exhale, slowly release the breath in the opposite order, emptying your lower abdomen last. With each exhale, a deeper feeling of spiritual peace is felt.
Peace and Joy Breathing
When you sit to practice this spiritual breathing exercise, your intention is most important. If you begin with the intention to feel each breath as if it were coming directly from the source of all life, it is believed that the exercise can be of great benefit. On each inhale, receive the energy of purity, peace and joy. On the exhale, release anything contrary to peace and joy, such as sorrow, fear or anger. Allow your exhale to be longer and deeper than your inhale.
