BREATHING EXERCISE FOR A MEDITATION

Breathing allows us to become aware. To feel, hear and sense with our whole bodies.

Breath in through your nose keeping your hand on your abdomen. On inhaling the abdomen should rise. Exhale and it should lower. Practice this a few times.

Breath in through your nose keeping one hand on your abdomen and one on your chest. Inhale and expand your abdomen. Continue to inhale expanding your chest also. Exhale just lowering your chest and then lowering your abdomen.

This method of deep breathing will allow you to focus and deepen your meditation.

Now try this imagining a pulling of energy through your feet up to a spot just above your crown. As you inhale raise your shoulders and pull the energy up to your crown. As you exhale imagine the energy raining down and washing through your body, along your spine, downward and out through your feet.

Relax your shoulders and your body on the exhale. Become aware of the sensations coursing through and energizing you.

Practice this exercise breathing deeply and very slowly. Then proceed with your meditation.