The Art of Living is an international organization that is led by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Art of Living centers provide classes in yoga, meditation, breathing exercises and spiritual wisdom. The Art of Living breathing exercises are designed to help you regulate your energy and vitality levels. These breathing exercises are designed to help you breathe to your full capacity.
Deep Abdominal Breathing
According to the "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living" book, abdominal breathing can be practiced either while standing up, sitting down or lying on your back. It is easiest to learn while lying down, however. To do this breathing exercise, lie on your back with your legs slightly apart and feet out to the sides. Interlock your fingers and put your hands onto your stomach with your palms touching your abdomen. Then inhale deeply enough that your belly begins to rise, expand and cause your fingers to move apart. Let your stomach expand as much as it possibly can, similar to how a balloon would when you blow into it. As you start to exhale, put some pressure on your abdomen to push it back down.
Full Yogic Breath
Full yogic breath involves all the respiratory muscles and makes full use of your lung's capacity. To begin, lie on your back. Take two deep abdominal breaths (see above). On your next inhale, make your stomach expand by using half of your breath to fill the lower parts of your lungs. Then make your chest expand to fill up the middle of your lungs. At the very end of your breath, fill your lungs up fully. Observe an expansion in your upper chest and that your collarbones will rise slightly. As you exhale, first allow the upper and middle parts of your lungs to deflate, allowing your collarbones and chest to relax. As you deflate your lower lungs, your abdomen will automatically relax. Make your breaths as rhythmic, smooth and long as you can, like a wave that is rising and falling.
Sudarshan Kriya
The Sudarshan is a rhythmic breathing exercise that helps you eliminate stress and stay in the present moment. "Su" means power and "darshan" means vision. "Kriya" is a purifying practice. Sudarshan kriya is thus a purification practice that allows you to receive a proper vision of your true essence or self. It is a breathing technique that is not described by books, but must be experienced in Art of Living classes.
References
- Gautier, Francois; The Guru of Joy: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living; 1990
- Art of Living: Sudarshan Kriya
