Change Your Life in 60 Seconds With This Breathing Exercise
Ever feel blocked? When we get hooked into our to-do lists and daily duties, we lose track of life flow. A big block is fear. Whenever fear arises, we get stopped in our tracks. Thoughts like, “I can’t,” or “there’s not enough” or “there’s no way” block us from creative ideas and the energy we need to move forward.
Then fear leads us to overthink and start future tripping about negative outcomes. All of these blocks disconnect us from the natural flow of life.
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One of the greatest ways to bust through emotional blocks fast is through a breathing technique frequently used in Kundalini yoga called breath of fire.
Breath of fire is a rhythmic breath in and out the nose. Kind of like deep sniffing. The breath comes from a relaxed diaphragm.
On the inhale, your diaphragm extends. On the exhale, it releases as you breathe in and out your nose. Once you get into a rhythm, you speed up the breath until it becomes breath of fire.
Breath of fire newbies often emphasize the exhale. This is a common mistake that can be easily corrected by remembering that the inhale and exhale are even.
It's also common for the newcomer to feel shortness of breath. This means that your diaphragm is tight from stress and tension or that you’re breathing in the opposite direction.
Remember that on the inhale, your diaphragm extends and on the exhale, it contracts. (Always make sure your diaphragm is relaxed.)
As you practice breath of fire, you'll release the tension in your diaphragm and in effect release yourself from many emotional blocks.
Breath of fire has many benefits beyond busting through blocks: it oxygenates and purifies the bloodstream, it stimulates the energy flow in your body, it stimulates the pituitary gland (which helps you bring all the other glands into balance), and it strengthens your electromagnetic field so that you become a magnet for greatness.
It's said that with one minute of breath of fire, you can achieve the same benefits you’d experience in one hour of the same pose with a normal breath.
Whenever you feel blocked, emotionally distressed or overwhelmed, turn to breath of fire. This is also a fantastic practice to use before a big meeting, a date, or any event where you want to enhance your presence and your power.
For more guidance watch this video:
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Gabrielle Bernstein is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back, and has written five additional bestsellers. She was featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday as a “next-generation thought leader,” and The New York Times named her “a new role model.” She appears regularly as an expert on The Dr. Oz Show and co-hosted the Guinness World Record largest guided meditation with Deepak Chopra.
Gabrielle has been on an international speaking circuit since2004. She has presented lectures at Google, TEDxWomen, Oprah’s SuperSoulSessions, The Chopra Center, The Omega Institute, L’Oréal, Philosophy and TheHuffington Post, among many other notable organizations. She is also a certified Kundalini yoga and meditation teacher.
Gabrielle is a regular guest on The Dr. Oz Show and has contributed to or been featured in media outlets such as SuperSoul Sunday, Today, CNN, Home & Family, Fox & Friends, PBS, KathieLee and Hoda, Access Hollywood, OWN’s Help Desk, The NewYork Times Sunday Styles section, Teen Vogue, ELLE, InStyle,Marie Claire, Health, SELF, Women’s Health, Glamour,The Sunday Times UK, People, The Wall Street Journal, TheThrive Global podcast, Lewis Howes’ School of Greatness, Bulletproof Radio and many more. Gabrielle has also been on the covers of Success, Experience Life and Self-Made magazines; the latter named her one of the top 50 women in business.
Gabby is the creator of the Miracle Membership, a first-of-its-kind monthly subscription that helps people stay committed to their spiritual practices. Her flagship course, Spirit Junkie Masterclass, empowers people to awaken their confidence and live their purpose.
Her new book, Super Attractor: Methods for Manifesting a Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams is out now.