Ecstatic Breath

The first thing you need to do before practicing an Ecstatic Breath session is find a support person who can be with you during your breath practice. Make sure this person can be an undistracted fully mindful support person for you while you practice the 30 minute breath work session.

Be sure your support person can be with you for a while after your session so you can discuss your session afterwards. Suppressed emotions and memories may arise and talking to someone after is a helpful and supportive measure.

 

Definition

In Ecstatic Breath we practice conscious connected breathwork by breathing through the mouth in a continuous fashion without pauses between the inhale and exhale. We expand into the inhale and release into the exhale… engaging in a wholly connected breathing cycle… diving into the exhale…. diving into the inhale. We use a flowing 3 part yogic breath… bringing the breath into the lower abdomen first, then the ribs, then allow the breath to rise into the chest like a wave.

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Ecstatic Breath is a powerful healing and releasing process… a natural and gentle breathwork that can release dysfunctional energy patterns and blocks held in your physical and energy systems for a healthier, more vibrant mind, body and spiritual life.

 

Benefits

Increased prana and life force enters the body for healing

A deeper sense of self love and acceptance

Quieting the thinking mind

Increased creativity, ideas and inspirations

Supports and relaxes nervous system

Expedited way to release energetic & emotional blockages in body tissues and nervous system

Expedited way to access unconscious unprocessed memories

Releases stored trauma from the physical tissues and energy systems of the body

Connects us to our natural Self

 

Contraindications;

Check with your doctor prior to practicing breathwork

All forms of breathing issues (Ex. Asthma)

Epilepsy

Heart problems

Pregnancy

Children (Only consenting adults should practice)

Ill health

 

What you will need

Quiet space

Nest; yoga mat, cushion, eye pillow and blanket if desired

Support person

Journal and pen

 

Ecstatic Breathwork

Inhale

A deep full inhale opening up, expanding into a yes to life, self, universe.

Increased prana and life force enters the body. Bringing in what serves your highest self.

Avoid shallow or fast inhale

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Exhale

Letting go, releasing, relaxing, surrendering, softening energy as you allow the breath to fall out without effort. You may sigh during the exhale.

Physical relaxation, letting go of what no longer serves your highest self.

Avoid shallow breathing, pushing of forcing the exhale.

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Conscious connected Breath

We breathe through the mouth, however if feeling stressed you may move to breathing through the nose. The breathing pattern is like a wave, flowing from inhale to exhale without a pause. Breathing is relaxed, gentle, purposeful and not rushed.

Become one with the breath, ride the breath like a wave on the ocean. Connect with the breath as if you are dancing and flowing consciously from inhale to exhale. Follow the breath with your awareness, fully focused on the breath and listening to inner sensations. Feel the experience from within the body.

 

About Ecstatic Breath

Ecstatic Breath is a form of conscious connected deep breathing that can transform and transmute stuck energy in the physical, emotional and mental body. Ecstatic breath can heal emotional trauma that is held in the body tissues as well as physical traumas due to physical injury. Unresolved physical and emotional experiences in our lives can create energetic blocks in the tissues and energy systems of the body.

When we use ecstatic breath practices we use the breath to consciously increase the energy in the body and move energy to the tissues and cellular areas that need healing and release. It is common for beginners to feel a lot of tingling sensations as the energy moves and works to open up energetic channels that are blocked.

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It is important to know that when we speak of trauma and energetic blockages in the body we are not only speaking of huge trauma in your life. Small, possibly unnoticed trauma can cause energy blockages. There are often small incidents, conditioned beliefs, physical injuries, emotional hurts and fear-based experiences that have caused the energy within certain tissues and systems of the body to constrict. Over time these constrictions become blockages and can affect all the systems of the body in different ways.

These subtle energetic constrictions and blockages may never be noticed because they are energetic, however if never addressed or healed they could eventually be underlying causes of emotional or physical ailments and illness.

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Ecstatic breath can also heal birth traumas as well as trauma that has occurred while in utero. Ecstatic breath can also release energetic blockages caused by imprints carried down from our parents or family members and their issues and traumas we took on early in life.

Ecstatic Breath is a simple, easy process that doesn’t need any medication nor cost any money and can create powerful results mentally, emotionally, energetically and physically.

 

Breathwork in Water

Today we will be practicing dry breathwork rather than in water. However, practicing breathwork in the water is a popular form of practice. When practicing in water it takes more care and a trained breathwork coach is needed at least in the beginning.

Practicing Ecstatic Breath in a hot tub or hot spring can assist in bringing up birth traumas. Being submerged in the water while practicing conscious connected breathing stimulates an amniotic environment and can bring up womb-like emotions.

 

History of Conscious Connected Breath

Conscious connected breathwork also called Rebirthing was first discovered by Leonard Orr in the early 1970’s. Orr first practiced breathwork in his tub by accident. He was soaking in his hot bathtub when spontaneously he began taking faster breaths than normal in a connected and continuous fashion. He began practicing regularly by himself in his tub breathing through a snorkel and then helped other’s through the process. He and Sondra Ray wrote the first known book on the subject called Rebirthing in the New Age.

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In 1978 I became a certified conscious connected breath therapist and began helping others to heal through conscious connected breathing. The process I do with clients is dry not done in water, however I have practiced gentle conscious connected breathing in water for friends and by myself after much practice and instruction. Beginners should not practice in water and never alone whether dry or in water. Always have another person with you while practicing conscious connected breathing whether in the water or not.

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When I first began practicing conscious connected breathing I was practicing weekly for over one year. The first few sessions my arms felt very tingly, which passed as I continued to practicing breathwork. After a month or two the tingles turned into powerful energy sensations moving more freely through my body. I had broken free from energetic constrictions and blockages in my body. The breathwork process was liberating as I felt energy move more and more freely through my body with each session. I recommend Ecstatic Breathwork for all adults with a desire to heal themselves deeply.

 

Support Person

We will be practicing an Ecstatic Breath session later in this class and we require that you have a support person with you for this practice. Someone who is not participating in the breath work themselves so they can be fully present to watch you and support you through the process. We also recommend you put on some of your favorite music to support you in this process.

 

Comfort

It is suggested that you keep your body very comfortable and relaxed. You may wish to lay a camping mat onto your yoga mat so you can be very comfortable. Wear comfortable clothing, use blankets and personal supports like a bolster or rolled blanket under your knees, whatever your body needs so your physical body is warm, relaxed and comfortable.

 

Space

The space you practice in should be safe, quiet and undistracted, if you and your support person can be alone that is a high preference.

Get your music ready and you may want to turn my voice recording up so you can hear my instructions over your music.

Have the heat or cooling in your space comfortable for your body.

 

Personal Safety

Ecstatic Breath is a safe process. No one has ever died from this practice.

You may experience resistance or a sense of discomfort as old emotions, control patterns or stuck traumas arise. Welcome all emotions. It is safe to feel fully whatever arises. Continue to follow the breath, listen to the body and sensations and allow the discomfort to arise and be released by the breathing process.

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The increased oxygen into the body and energy system of the body allows what has been held within, what has been stuffed down and repressed that no longer serves us to come up to be released.

Often suppressed memories from early childhood, birth or in utero arise. Sometimes these memories are stressful or create emotional overwhelm. If it is safe for you to breathe through the emotions, please do so with your support person to allow the energy to arise and be released. If the memories are too stressful you are advised to return to your normal breath, breathe through your nose or enter into breath awareness using your natural breathing rhythm.

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Tingling may occur and is safe and normal during breathwork. When we breathe and fully feel through the discomfort of blocks, fears and restriction we allow them to be released and freed from our bodies on a deep level. You will feel sensation in the body, often tingling occurs as the prana and life force moves stuck energy in your body. If tingling occurs you can breathe through it, also it is ok to allow gentle small body movements as you continue to breathe and bathe the entire body in prana.

Often tingling occurs in a breathwork session when suppressed energy is wanting to be released. When it occurs in the hands it can be helpful for you to ask yourself “What am I holding onto that I need to release?” If it occurs around the eyes, ask yourself “What am I not wanting to look at?” If it occurs around the mouth ask yourself “Where am I not speaking my truth?”

Tingling is energy moving and is not hyperventilation. During breathwork we are not entering into hyperventilation, that is not the intention and should always be avoided.

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Hyperventilation is caused by over breathing and rapid breathing where the inhale and exhale are not equal. In hyperventilation the body restricts the amount of oxygen released in the blood to the tissues, depleting carbon dioxide levels. This can cause tetany, an involuntary contraction of the muscles and temporary paralysis of a body part.

Tetany usually occurs in the arms, hands, or face and subsides when you relax the breath, especially the exhale. It is not painful, only uncomfortable due to it being unfamiliar.

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The best thing to do if tetany arises or if the inhale gets more shallow and the exhale feels pushed is to relax the breath, equalize and slow the breath to avoid hyperventilation yet continue to breath to allow the energy and prana to release the suppressed unconscious energy to be released.

If you feel uncomfortable shortness of breath, either breathe through your nose or back off from the connected breathing process and return to your normal breathing rhythm. If you ever feel overly stressed or your physical body feels pain, back off from the conscious connected breathing and return to your normal breath.

 

Peak

After about 15-25 minutes of Ecstatic Breathwork you may feel a deep release of emotions and energy that may create more intense body sensations, an emotional release or a release of the nervous system. A flood of sensation may occur, laughter or tears may arise. This is a great thing, allow this process to occur and relax into what arises, surrendering into the process.

 

Integration

Towards the end of a breathwork session and after the peak at about 20 minutes we will return the breath to normal as well as breathing through the nose and allow a deep integration of mind, body and soul. This is when we allow the healing, self-growth and insights to integrate deeply into our being. During this time of integration ideas, spiritual downloads and inspiration may arise. Or you may bask in a peaceful silent stillness beyond description. Sometimes people may go into a short breath retention as they bask in a deep meditative state. This isn’t anything to be concerned about, the body will naturally begin to breathe again. However, this is why we have our support person. Please instruct your support person to touch your shoulder gently and help you resume your natural breath if breath retention continues longer than natural.

 

Get Ready

Please pause this recording until you can be set up with a cozy nest and a support person for the Ecstatic Breathing Process. We will be breathing for about 30 minutes. This is a process you can repeat over and over again as often as you wish.

Have a journal and pen nearby to write down any idea’s, insights or thoughts after your breathwork session.

 

Ecstatic Breathing Process  

Begin to breathe in your natural breathing rhythm through your nose. Bring your full awareness to your breath as you continue to honor your natural flow of inhale and exhale.

Relax the body and mind.

Relax into this natural flow of inhalation and exhalation, deeply connected to your breath and honoring the breath.

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Becoming grounded in this present moment, bringing all your awareness to your breath, relaxing into the body and breath.

Begin to breathe into the belly, the lower abdomen and relax the body even deeper. You can bring your hands to your belly to assist your abdominal breathing.

Engaging in 3 part yogic breath now, allowing the breath to fill the lower belly first, then the ribs and lastly the chest, a deep flowing breath like a wave.

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Begin now to breathe through your mouth with 3 part yogic breath, filling the body with some deeper inhales and exhales. Bringing the breath now to a flowing connection as you allow the inhale and exhale to dive into one another without any pauses.

Inhale as you expand and open with a big yes to yourself and this moment, exhale releasing effortlessly all that no longer serves you. Keeping both inhale and exhale connected and flowing like waves in the ocean.

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Continue to breathe evenly, deeply and consciously.

Fully connected to sensation in the body as the breath bathes you in prana.

Opening with grace in your inhale, surrendering with grace in your exhale

Follow the wave of breath and sensation

Dance with the breath, bask in sensation

Become one with the breath

Flow effortlessly with the breath

Feel the whole body experience of breath and sensation

Continuing to breath even through discomfort

Allow whatever arises to arise and be released

Riding the waves of breath with full awareness

Allowing the inhale to bring in whatever serves and the exhale to release what no longer serves

Filling the body with life force and prana

Allowing that increased life force to move through blockages and free the energy within the body

Breathe

Allow

Open

Release

Surrender into the breath

Allow the breath and prana to flow powerfully through your body

Feel your energy systems open and become alive

Breathe through any resistance or discomfort

Immerse in the expanding energy field within your body

Breathe and relax the body and mind

Beginning to wind down the process

Bringing the breath back to its natural rhythm and flow

Breathe through your nose once again

Allow the body to bathe in prana and life force energy.

Notice sensation.

Relaxing the body and breath.

Allow silent stillness to take over your whole being.

Rest in pure awareness