Hey,
This is Pat and you're welcome to today's practice.
This practice is a low triangle breath.
So it has three equal sides.
The hold is going to be on the bottom.
So we're going to be breathing in,
Breathing out,
And then we're going to pause with the lungs empty.
So that small change makes a big difference.
When we hold on empty,
Carbon dioxide rises faster.
So this can feel a little more intense than a regular triangle breath,
A little more alive.
So it's an energizing breath,
Good for the morning before training or anytime you feel flat and you want to switch on.
A few things before we start,
I'd encourage you to do this seated or lying down,
Never whilst driving,
Never in water.
If you're pregnant or you have a heart or breathing condition,
Just check in with a doctor before you practice holds like this.
And if you feel lightheaded,
Tingly or the hold feels panicky,
Just ease off and shorten the hold or just breathe normally.
You can always come back.
We're going to breathe through the nose the whole way.
And so let's begin together,
Just finding a seat or lying down,
Whatever feels comfortable today.
Gently closing the eyes if that feels okay and breathing naturally for a few moments.
Feeling the air coming in,
Cool through the nose.
Slightly warmer as it leaves.
And notice how much energy you have right now without judgment.
Just take a reading of your energy levels.
Allow your breath to settle a little lower in the body,
Down toward the belly.
And in a few moments we'll begin.
We're going to start with a count of four.
Breathing gently,
Not forcing the air out,
Just a relaxed exhale and then a hold.
So let's breathe in,
Two,
Three,
Four,
And out,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Holding on empty,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Breathe in,
Two,
Three,
Four,
And out,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Holding,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Breathe in,
Two,
Three,
Four,
And out,
Two,
Three,
Four.
3,
4,
Holding on empty,
2,
3,
4.
Good.
Continuing like this.
Enjoying the hold on empty,
Keep the throat soft.
It can be easy to grip there.
Really think about the whole as being quiet rather than locked.
Even in a few moments if it feels manageable we're going to move to five.
On the count,
But if 4 feels like plenty,
Stay with 4.
The right count is the one that you can hold with some ease.
Maybe now moving to in 2 3 4 5 and out 2 3 4 5 holding on empty 2 3 4 5 breathing in 2 3 4 5 and out 2 3 4 5 holding on empty 2 3 4 5 breathing in 2 3,
4,
5 and out 2,
3,
4,
5 holding on empty 2,
3,
4,
5 and just continuing like this at your own pace keeping the throat soft,
Keeping the belly soft.
Rather than pushing the breath away.
Just allowing the breath to leave.
Rather than clenching on the hold,
Just softening and resting in the hold.
In a few moments again,
Only if it feels manageable.
We'll move to a six count so we'll be breathing in for six out for six and holding for six but again if it's more comfortable to stay with five or four please do so Maybe let's try that now,
Breathing in 2,
3,
4,
5,
6 and out 2,
3,
4,
5,
6 and hold 2,
3,
4,
5,
6 breathing in 2,
3,
4,
5,
6 and out 2,
3,
4,
5,
6 and hold 2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
Breathing in,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
Out,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
And hold,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
And staying with this for a few more breaths.
Perhaps feeling the body waking up.
Maybe warmth or tingling and buzz.
Letting it rise.
Be expected that there might be a urge to breathe that comes a little bit quicker but stay soft in the belly.
If the hold feels too long,
Just make it a little bit shorter on this round and then come back.
Allow the hold to be smooth,
Not a gasp.
Controlling the first sip of air on your inhale.
Again,
Not gasping.
Let's do two more rounds.
And now let's let the count go.
Just breathe however your body wants to breathe.
Notice the energy in you now Maybe compare it to the reading you took at the start.
So you just met a real stress signal in the body with the hold and stayed with it.
And that's the practice.
Being able to feel the pressure rise and keep your head is useful pretty much everywhere.
Let's take one full breath in through the nose.
And let it go.
Taking your time,
Open your eyes whenever you're ready.
And encourage you to take that energy into your day.
Thank you for practicing with me.
See you next time.