Luminous Muse Healing
  • Home
  • Events
  • Healing Circle
  • Private Programs
  • About Me
  • Blog

Why is breath work not always relaxing?

6/21/2016

0 Comments

 
In the healing realms breath comes up in relation to meditation and relaxation.  Mostly, I do think breath work is good for relaxation, but for some the breath is a trigger.  I'm seeing this in some family members that I do healing work with, as well as a few clients... and I'm also thinking back to my own days in the throes of asthma.

So, what's up with breathing bringing up stress and tension?

The breath is the manifestation of our life force energy... simple... without it we die.  It is the tangible expression of our lives.  With asthma allergies, a habit of shallow breathing... or, really, any tension around the breath, our tendency is to energetically move away from our breath.  Instead we turn our attention somewhere else that is more comfortable.  This habit of moving away from difficult breath out of fear results in a connection between our own breath and a stress response in the body. 

So what happens when we connect our breath with stress and danger?  It means we will habitually minimize the breath in order to stay away from fear.  That's why breath work can ping people.  It can bump us into our own avoidance mechanisms... our deep fears... and it can make us feel panicky.

Solution?  Awareness.  We can release this erroneous (and paradoxical!) association between the breath and danger.  How?  Try this...
Picture
Direct your awareness to your breathing.  I do not mean that I want you to sit and think about your breath.  I do mean that I want you to sense your breath. This is different than thinking.  Sensing happens from the inside. Sensing is noticing the stretching of muscles, the opening of the ribs, the release of the muscles on the exhale. 

NOTE: Awareness, or sensing, is passive.  It’s just noticing what happens, without judging it, without changing it, allowing it to just be.  Awareness sets the stage for a different kind of relationship, one in which you are both sensing AND listening to the response the body gives.  When you are breathing easily, notice the tiny sensations of the expansion of the chest cavity. Allow your breath to be deep just to the point that you begin to sense stretching or tension. Don't go into the tension... but right up to it. Where that is may change with each breath. Just notice.

The premise here is that you're building a new kind of relationship with your body.  You are shifting from having expectations of the body to perform as a machine to a true relationship that is based in awareness.  You are noticing your body, and it is able to let you know what it needs.  This is Body Wisdom.
0 Comments

    Jill Clifton

    I'm an explorer of inner realms, a pattern observer, and an invitation maker.  I believe that healing the world starts within.

    If you organize your blog conversations through Bloglovin' you can follow me there...
    Follow
    Or if you would prefer for this blog to appear magically in your inbox...
    Follow

    Archives

    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Categories

    All
    Ancestral Healing
    Body Wisdom
    Body Wisdom Healing Circle
    Cellular Vitality
    Daily Practice
    Divine
    Elements
    Events
    Foundation
    Grounding
    Healing
    Heart Healing
    Info You Can Use
    Inner Truth
    Inner Truth
    Intention
    Mindset
    Nature Messages
    Notes From The Muse
    Prolapse
    Quotes
    Resilience Course
    Ritual
    Sacred Feminine
    Symptoms Of Menopause
    Ted Talks
    Word Of The Year
    Working With The Body
    Writing
    Yoniverse

    RSS Feed

Contact Me

jill.d.clifton@gmail.com
831.600.6638

What others say about my work :

Jill's particular genius is to process each emotion as savory and precious.  She inspires the best of personal will for you to generate possibility, openness & ultimately lasting transformation.  
~ Maya, Sacramento CA

It is clear to me that Jill cares deeply about her clients.  She has worked with all of the members of our family to reclaim the wholeness and health of our bodies.
~ Laura, San Jose CA
  • Home
  • Events
  • Healing Circle
  • Private Programs
  • About Me
  • Blog