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BREATHING TECHNIQUES

Sun Breath, Sun Signs & Sun Salutations

Sun Salutations

Sun Salutations are the perfect simple yoga routine to help you move your body and feel energized.

The full set is not for everyone so I created a video to show the variations you can use to add this to your routine.

You can do this when you wake up in the morning, mid-morning, or help beat an afternoon slump.

You technically don’t even need a yoga mat and I just love that.

If you are new to Sun Salutations, then you will probably follow the video for a while and then you will be able to start doing them on your own.

Solar Breath

You can start or finish Sun Salutations with Solar Breath. You can also do this as a stand-alone morning practice.

  • Sit tall
  • Close your left nostril with the first two fingers of your left hand
  • Inhale slowly and deeply through the right nostril
  • Exhale slowly through your right nostril
  • This is one cycle.
  • Repeat 8 to 10 times or for 1 to 3 minutes.
  • Allow your eyes to close.
  • Pause after and take some deep breaths through both nostrils.
  • Notice how you feel.

The right nostril is connected to the Sun and your Pingala Nadi. Your solar (pingala) nadi (channel) is in your subtle energy body.

This breath is warming and energizing. This is also a breath featured in my book, Tend To Your Vibration.

Sun Signs

You might like to dedicate your practice and/or your breath to embody the energy of the current Sun Sign.

Simply figure out which sun sign we are in at the moment by the dates listed below. Then read the description and see where you can benefit from that energy in your life.

Set your intention to embody that energy at the beginning of your Sun Salutation practice and bring your mind back to it at the end.

Then find ways to infuse that energy into your day during this cycle.

Aries – March 21 – April 19 – Fire sign – Keywords: passion, spontaneity, independent, impatience, energetic, generous, foolish.

Taurus – April 20 – May 20 – Earth sign – Keywords: stability, earthly pleasures, stubbornness, routine, deliberate, sensuality, persistence, contented.

Gemini – May 21 – June 20 – Air sign – Keywords: duality, communication, intellectual, versatile, resourceful, curiosity, distracted, charming

Cancer – June 21 – July 22 – Water sign – Keywords: nurturing, sentimental, moodiness, family, home, creativity, emotions, sensitive.

Leo – July 23 – August 22 – Fire sign – Keywords: expressive, loyalty, excited, courage, drama, generosity, arrogance, playfulness.

Virgo – August 23 – September 22 – Earth sign – Keywords: grounded, order, helpfulness, perfectionism, cleanliness, helper, selfless, analytical.

Libra – September 23 – October 22 – Air sign – Keywords: balance, harmony, partnership, commitment, fairness, inconsistent, relationships, cooperation.

Scorpio – October 23 – November 21 – Water sign – Keywords: intensity, magnetic, mysterious, loyal, sexiness, possessive, power, brave.

Sagittarius – November 22 – December 21 – Fire sign – Keywords: adventure, bluntness, playful, inspiration, honesty, fearless, risk, curiosity.

Capricorn – December 22 – January 19 – Earth sign – Keywords: practical, ambitious, career, structure, goals, cynical, productive, boundaries.

Aquarius – January 20 – February 18 – Air sign – Keywords: originality, hopeful, social justice, friendliness, innovative, detached, open-minded, freedom.

Pisces – February 19 – March 20 – Water sign – Keywords: idealistic, artistic, dreamer, imaginative, self-delusion, compassion, healer, family.

I hope you love this! Please share your Sun sign below! I’m an Aries!

6 Tips to Help Ease Anxiety, Stress, and Fear.

Have you been feeling stressed, anxious, or worried lately because of all of the news around the Coronavirus? I have been and want to share what has helped me.

Earlier this week, I started on a downward spiral after reading about how we should stock up on life-saving medication like insulin for my 12-year-old son who has Type 1 Diabetes.

I was feeling overwhelmed and out of control. After reading tons of articles, I checked in and noticed that my heart was racing and I felt scared.

I know you might have had a similar experience.

I paused and reminded myself that while I might not have to tools to stop the spread of this virus, I do have the tools to help me cope with the anxiety I am experiencing because of it.

I want to share with you what has worked for me this week and encourage you to try at least one if not all of them!

Tips for Coping with Anxiety, Stress, and Fear:

  1. Essential Oils: Put a Put some drops of your favorite relaxing oil like lavender on a washcloth and then place that over your face and breathe deeply. Be careful that the oil doesn’t bother your eyes. You might like to add it to just the bottom of the cloth. I did this for the first time this week and can’t believe I haven’t done it sooner. It helped calm me so much!
  2. Breathing Exercises: You might like to do “Box Breath” with the cloth over your face. This is when you inhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 4, and hold for a count of 4. You can imagine that each 4 count is the side of a box. Do 10 rounds or set a timer for 1 to 5 minutes. I have a bunch of breathing exercises on my blog and in my book that will help too.
  3. Guided Relaxation: This is a new video on my blog and I did this guided relaxation the other night when I was feeling particularly anxious and it shifted everything. I guide you through relaxing each part of your body. This has a profound effect on your body, mind, and nervous system. You might also like to have the essential oil washcloth over your face when doing this.
  4. Change your thoughts: The other night I realized that I was feeling scared and not prepared. After doing the guided relaxation, I shifted my thoughts and said, “I stay positive and draw in everything I need.” I even made it my phone screensaver. Feel free to use it or create your own! Just click on the image above to download.
  5. Declutter or Clean: When things are going on in the world that are out of your control, it can calm your anxieties to focus on something you can control like clutter or messes in your home. It is nice to create these moments of peace.
  6. Send love out into the world: This guided meditation is perfect for when you feel like the world needs a bit more love and you wish you could help more.

Here are a few more ideas from my blog:
– A Chant for Global Well Being
– Super Simple Meditation
– Spiritual Tips for When a Family Member is in the Hospital
– Practice some gentle yoga 
– Boost your immune system with energizing yoga

Most of the lessons in my Free Spirit Guidebook can help with stress and anxiety too.

The important thing is to catch yourself, then take care of yourself and do both consistently.

Also, be mindful of how much news you are consuming. It is good to be informed but try to balance that with taking care of yourself.

I adore you and hope you find these tips helpful. XO!

Bust Through Blocks With Ego Eradicator Breath

If you are looking to bust through blocks in your life then Ego Eradicator Breath can help. This is a Kundalini Yoga Exercise that is very powerful.

This is a variation of Breath of Fire in my book, Tend To Your Vibration.

What I mean by “blocks” are any mental and emotional patterns that are holding you back from moving forward in the direction you want to go.

Examples of different types of blocks are:

  • Being stuck in a pattern of thinking in which you have a hard time seeing the idea, item, or situation any other way. This can be like not seeing any way to earn more money, or feeling convinced that you will never fall in love (or fall in love again), or thinking that negative things ALWAYS happen to you.
  • Emotional blocks are often ways of acting that keep you repeating a pattern such as sabotaging your own work by being late regularly, or closing yourself off and pushing a partner away every time things get serious, or never planning ahead so that you miss important things in your life and blame it on others.

So often you do these things unconsciously. In your heart, you want more and you want to love differently but your ego is trying to keep you safe. Unchartered territory can seem scary.

When you feel like you are stuck in a rut (these are called samskaras in yoga – ooh, that is a whole other post), you can practice Ego Eradicator to help you get out of the rut and move forward. It works on an energetic level. You will understand what I mean after you practice the breath.

Ego Eradicator Breath

  • Begin sitting comfortably in a chair or on the floor in easy pose (legs crossed).
  • Lift your arms up to a 60-degree angle (see video). Keep your elbows straight and your shoulders relaxed.
  • Your fingertips will curl and rest on to the pads of your palms at the base of your fingers. Thumbs are stretched out.
  • Close your eyes and roll them in and up to focus on your third-eye or above your head.
  • Practice Breath of Fire. Take quick inhales and exhales of equal length. The area above the navel point naturally comes in on the exhale and releases on the inhale. You can watch this video here too.
  • Continue for 1 – 3 minutes. Or a few rounds if you are just starting out.
  • Finish by inhaling deeply and bringing your arms overhead to touch your thumbs together. Then open your fingers, exhale and relax your arms down. 

This breath is not recommended if you are pregnant or menstruating.

This breath is more like a meditation. It helps clear and strengthen your energetic field, your aura.

Ego Eradicator exercise is a great introduction noticing how your breath and body can help you release blocks and patterns that you have been holding onto so you can feel more energized and confident to move forward.

I talked about this breath in this blog post: Spiritual Tips for When a Family Member is in the Hospital.

Ego Eradicator breath helps strengthen your nervous system to respond to stress with greater ease, increases lung capacity, and is both relaxing and energizing.

I do this practice every day. In the morning when I wake up. When I feel stuck or frustrated during the day. At night when I want to get rid of all of the junk, I picked up from other people, news, etc.

Let me know in the comments what you think of this exercise!

Tap Into the Aloha Vibe with this Hawaiian Breath

Can you tell that I just got back from Hawaii? I had the most magical time and wanted to share some of the Aloha energy with you.

While I was there, I woke up early and did my normal breathing exercises to start my day.

A few days in, I realized that I wanted to really embody and project the word Aloha and Mahalo.

I learned that Aloha does not only mean hello and goodbye. It also means:

  • Love, peace, and compassion.
  • A connection with mind, body, spirit.
  • A connection with all other people, living things, and the universe.
  • To be joined with the spirit and the presence of the person you are with or the place you are in. 

So I edited the breath I was doing to use the word Aloha and then I added an evening breath using the word Mahalo, to give thanks for the wonderful day.

After I got back, I discovered that the break down of the word includes breath.

Alo – “to share”
oha – “to show affection or friendship”
ha – “life, breath”

Wow! How perfect!

I am sharing this breathing technique with you today in a short video. (1:44). 

I share this with respect for the Hawaiian culture and gratitude that I was able to experience with my family.

Below are some of my favorite photos from our trip!

Thriving During the Holidays with the Sun & Moon!

Pausing to do breathing exercises has truly changed my life for the better. I am excited to share two different techniques that will help you thrive during the holiday season and beyond. Your breath is amazing!

Are you feeling anxious, angry, frustrated, or something similar?

Try Left Nostril Breathing.

  • Sit tall
  • Close your right nostril with the first two fingers of your right hand
  • Inhale slowly and deeply through the left nostril
  • Exhale slowly through your left nostril
  • This is one cycle.
  • Repeat 8 to 10 times or for 1 to 3 minutes.
  • Allow your eyes to close.
  • Pause after and take some deep breaths through both nostrils.
  • Notice how you feel.

The left nostril is connected to the Moon and your Ida Nadi. Your lunar (ida) nadi (channel) is in your subtle energy body. It controls all mental processes and the more feminine aspects of your personality. It is cooling and cleansing.

Benefits include:

  • reduces stress
  • cools the body
  • helps lower blood pressure
  • calms the mind and nervous system

Tips: Not recommended for people with low blood pressure. If you have any medical conditions, please consult with your doctor first.

Feeling tired, unmotivated, depressed, sluggish, or something similar?

Try Right Nostril Breathing.

  • Sit tall
  • Close your left nostril with the first two fingers of your left hand
  • Inhale slowly and deeply through the right nostril
  • Exhale slowly through your right nostril
  • This is one cycle.
  • Repeat 8 to 10 times or for 1 to 3 minutes.
  • Allow your eyes to close.
  • Pause after and take some deep breaths through both nostrils.
  • Notice how you feel.

The right nostril is connected to the Sun and your Pingala Nadi. Your solar (pingala) nadi (channel) is in your subtle energy body. It increases vitality and controls the more masculine aspects of your personality. It is warming and nurturing.

Benefits include:

  • helps alleviate sluggishness and depression
  • increases physical energy
  • warms the body
  • increased digestive fire
  • effective for stress management

Tips: Best done on an empty stomach. Not recommended for people with high blood pressure. If you have any medical conditions, please consult with your doctor first.

Feel free to let me know how these breaths work for you. If you want to learn more breathing techniques, check out my Free Spirit Guidebook!

Happy Holidays!

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