[vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″ el_class=”head-post”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
By Yeshe Palmo \u2022 3 min read[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”sharepost”]\n\t\t\t\t
SHARE:\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t<\/p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Joy of Living” style=”outline” color=”peacoc” align=”left” el_class=”btn-post” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fjoy.tergar.org%2Fjoy-of-living%2F||target:%20_blank|”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column lms_has_clearfix=”0″][vc_single_image image=”121489″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1704824348294{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” el_class=”hidden-xs”][vc_single_image image=”121490″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1705436830723{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” el_class=”visible-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text el_class=”subtittle-open-post”]<\/p>\n Breath is absolutely amazing. Breath is always with us, from the moment we\u2019re born to the moment we die. It costs nothing. Breath tells us so much about our energy. If our energy is all over the place, our breathing will be too. If our mind is at ease, the breath is at ease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We usually just think about breathing in and breathing out, yet there are four parts to a breath cycle. The four parts affect the nervous system in different ways. When we inhale, it\u2019s like spring; it\u2019s what we are inviting in! And when we\u2019re at the top of the inhale, that\u2019s summer \u2014 we\u2019re at our power and strength. It\u2019s there fully. After summer comes autumn. This is the exhale, which is about letting go, releasing, detoxifying, like the autumn shedding. And at the end of the exhale, we arrive at winter: clear and empty.<\/span><\/p>\n What effect are we looking for when we breathe? If we want to release tension or rumination, we emphasize the exhalation and the gap at the end before the inhalation. If we want to energize, we emphasize the inhale, and the place at the top of the inhale. <\/span><\/p>\n In Mingyur Rinpoche\u2019s January 2024 teaching video, he instructs us to breathe slowly and gently. We all have different speeds, so remember to do what is slow and gentle for you. He is working with the left and right nostrils alternatively, balancing our energetic body. When we breathe only through the right nostril, we are charging our system (sympathetic), and when we breathe through the left nostril, we relax the nervous system (parasympathetic). After counting our breaths, Rinpoche asks us to relax \u2014 inhale and exhale at our natural pace \u2014 and notice our sensations. Simply by noticing, mind and body are synchronizing. In doing this balancing practice, we will become energized and awake!<\/span><\/p>\n The breath is linked to the nervous system and subtle body. The patterns of how we breathe are developed when we are very young and are unique to each of us. We can understand our unique breathing pattern by checking with our hands placed on the center of our chest and the belly. We can then explore our breathing cycle to see if we are breathing merely in our chest or belly. If there is hardly any expansion, we can try breathing so that there\u2019s some movement in our chest and belly. To breathe properly doesn\u2019t mean we force the breath; we keep it gentle. It means there\u2019s movement in the chest and the belly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are some safety measures to keep in mind. If you feel odd, do stop. The breathwork can affect the nervous system, and the effects may not be noticeable until a few hours later. Safety means taking care of ourselves. If our body tells us something is not quite right, believe it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Yeshe Palmo, a therapeutic counselor since 2007 and yoga teacher, received three years of specialized training with breath and movement specialist Betsy Polatin. Palmo has a master’s in meditation and yoga traditions, and her academic research focused on the efficacy of yoga in preparing Westerners for long retreats. Palmo was a nun for 17 years and has done extensive retreat. She is a long-time student of Thrangu Rinpoche, <\/span><\/i>Khenpo Tsultrim, Ringu Tulku, and <\/span><\/i>Mingyur Rinpoche and currently resides in England. In recent years, she has volunteered much time to Tergar\u2019s development of its Awareness Yoga practice.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text el_class=”icon-tittle-post”]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7ejGC3QiIqY” el_width=”80″ align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1705344809317{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-cielo-post”][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog”]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog” css=”.vc_custom_1625157115208{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]<\/p>\nBreath at ease, mind at ease<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Balancing the energetic body<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Our breathing cycle<\/strong><\/h3>\n
About the Author<\/h2>\n
Monthly Teaching:<\/h2>\n
Joy of Living Online Training<\/h2>\n
Theory and practice of meditation, step-by-step.<\/h4>\n