Here I am writing about the eighth day of transcendental breathing practice.
I find myself under the covers, listening to Ludovico Einaudi while reflecting on the important things to share with you.
It hasn’t been an easy journey, not even a bit, due to a series of ups and downs that have prevented me from fully enjoying it.
Today I have a cold, still have a bit of a cough, and I’m probably too tired because of the many things I’ve had to do this week: moving house, training, and work thoughts.
Despite it not being recommended to do breathing exercises in these conditions, I decided to continue anyway because, in the end, I felt better.
In the meantime, I’ve learned a bit more about my body and the best way to do the exercises.
I recommend getting a yoga mat and lying down on the floor for this practice. It’s advisable to lie down with bent knees and a blanket over you to keep warm. Place your hands in two areas of the body: one on the stomach and one at heart level.
Before starting, it’s good to take some deep breaths, not timed, just to connect with your breath. Then, if you have a timer, it’s useful to calculate the duration of a deep breath done correctly.
During the inhalation phase, start by inhaling through the nose to bring air into the abdomen, then filling the lungs in the chest area without stiffening the muscles of the shoulders or collarbones. During the exhalation phase, the opposite happens: exhale slowly through the mouth to control the breath, emptying the chest area first and then the stomach as deeply as possible. Your hands can help verify if you’re doing the exercise correctly.
It’s important that your back is fully supported by the floor during both the inhalation and exhalation phases, so it’s advisable to bend your knees.
Another fundamental thing is not to hold or support the breath: breathing should flow like the waves of the sea.
During the practice, it’s normal to get bored or distracted and want to stop, but it’s important to continue for at least 30 minutes. The most significant experiences for me occurred after the thirtieth minute.
I’ve never had crying fits or emotional breakthroughs as I’ve been told, but the book by David De Angelis specifies that this could happen between the eighth and tenth day. Also, thinking back, something like this happened to me a long time ago during another breathing practice, assisted by a skilled physiotherapist, so it probably already happened in the past. However, I still have many emotional blocks, so I expect them to return sooner or later.
What have been the most significant benefits of this practice?
Certainly, a significant reduction in the anxiety that has been weakening me lately.
I’ve had clearer ideas, brilliant ideas, and above all, I’ve experienced unexpected waves of joy, even though I’ve received very impactful news in my life.
I’ve noticed that it was much easier for me to communicate with people, connect with them, and share beautiful moments throughout the rest of the day. The joy I felt during the exercises has turned into confidence in life for the rest of the day. Also, during the day, when there was a moment of stress, it came naturally to calm down by focusing on my breath.
This never happened before.
Usually, if I had a moment of anxiety or stress, my mind would race in a thousand directions and continue to think about the same thing until another thought of the same intensity (or a panic attack) came along.
Only sleep calmed the flow of my thoughts, or sports. So, most likely, I’ll continue to practice in the morning on an empty stomach, hoping this cold passes soon.
Soon I’ll also write about other breathing techniques with specific goals and share with you the reports on this practice. I believe it’s important to document these experiences to truly understand the benefits that can be gained from them.
So, with a deep breath and a light heart, I close this chapter of my respiratory adventure. Remember always: every breath is a new beginning, ready to embrace the wonderful journey of life!
Tune in soon.
Miss Adore.