#BreatheOnPurpose: The 4/4 Breath

All the Things with Melissa Danielle

I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am. ~ Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar If you have time, allow yourself to relax for couple of minutes on your back after completing this breathwork meditation. Give yourself a good full body stretch before getting back into the swing of things. The 4/4 breath has a similar navel action to Breath of Fire, as practiced in Ego Eradicator. What do you notice about your breathing, your mood/mental state, and your body during and after this breathwork experience? Have a question, comment, or feedback? Leave a comment below or connect with me on Twitter @honeybholistic with #breatheonpurpose. Breathe On Purpose uses the Insight Timer. The information presented herein is for education and information purposes, and is not intended to replace the advice and care of a licensed healthcare professional. Please honor your body and your well-being by using your own personal wisdom and discretion as you participate in this experience. If you’ve ever found it difficult to sit still and quiet your mind during meditation, breathwork, also known as pranayama, may make all the difference. Meditation in its simplest explanation, is focus. A daily practice of focused breathing can help to relieve tension and stress, increase energy levels, increase oxygen and improve blood flow, ease anxiety and depression, aide in muscle relaxation, make sleep more restful, and increase one’s overall well-being. There’s no right or wrong way to breathe, so your experience will be your own. While I offer suggestions for creating an intentional space, breathing on purpose does not require any special tools or equipment, and can be done anywhere and at anytime, sitting, standing, walking, and lying down. As you learn the breathwork exercise, it may be helpful to begin in an upright position. Once you are familiar with the breathwork exercise, you can practice however you like. For the purposes of this demonstration, Breathe on Purpose is three minutes. You are welcome to go longer or shorter, as your time and desire allow. Breathe on Purpose is offered in-person through my workshops and via phone as an extended practice to members of Honeybee Wellness Club. Honeybee Wellness Club offers a 7-Step practice for creating sustainable health and wellness without dieting, detoxing, and deprivation. "May the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you, and the pure light within you guide your way home" is the closing song of classes in the tradition of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan/3HO. It is adapted from the lyrics of "A Very Cellular Song" performed by The Incredible String Band and written by Mike Heron. I am a KRI Level I Kundalini Yoga Instructor since 2005, trained under Gurucharan Khalsa, Guru Dharam Khalsa, Nirbhe Kaur, and Mahan Rishi Singh with additional studies in Naam Yoga under Joseph Michael Levry. Breath is essential to life. It is the first thing we do when we are born and the last thing we do when we leave. In between that time, we take about half a billion breaths. What we may not realize is that the mind, body, and breath are intimately connected and can influence each other. Our breathing is influenced by our thoughts, and our thoughts and physiology can be influenced by our breath. Learning to breathe consciously and with awareness is the fourth limb of yoga, and it can be a valuable tool in helping to restore balance in the mind and body. From Breathing for Life: The Mind-Body Healing Benefits of Pranayama