Well I realise I'm a bit late in "joining the party" here, but I thought I'd nevertheless add my experiences and thoughts to the discussion.
First off, I just wish to thank Laura and the team for producing an incredible, powerful set of exercises that have given me something I have been looking for for years. I have always wanted to “get into meditation” or yoga-like practices, but I always got distracted, or made up excuses for not doing so. Also I found it very hard to meditate for any length of time. However I believe that these new exercises have made things “easier” for me because of the physical element which is involved -- at least more physical than any of the meditation stuff I’ve done in the past.
I downloaded the program about a week ago, but kept making excuses not to begin until last night. In fact I got so distracted that I didn’t begin watching the video (for the second time) until around 11 pm, and then I started the audio portion around 11:45 pm. So I didn’t finish the entire program until nearly 1 am!
The funny thing is, before I began I was quite tired and could have easily gone to sleep. I know this is not the best time to begin such work, but I thought that because I has already put it off for long enough, I had just better start the exercises right there and then.
Having said that, I did not get tired or yawn once the entire time, including the meditation portion, and I didn’t “zone out” at all. Once I got to the meditation portion, I was SO relaxed -- more relaxed than I can ever remember feeling in my entire life! And upon lying on my bed to commence the meditation portion, I could not stop smiling! I even laughed a little -- I don’t know why -- I think it was because I was just so darn impressed with how effective the previous part had been, and how amazingly calm I felt at that moment. All this in someone who suffers anxiety problems on a regular basis. I strongly believe my anxiety will subside with this program and with daily pipe breathing.
I noticed that the swallowing problem I had when I initially just did the pipe breathing exercises over the last couple of weeks, while lying down, seemed to have disappeared when incorporated into the entire program.
I had a couple of discomforts though: I couldn’t sit cross-legged for too long as it seemed to cut off my circulation and cause my legs to go all numb. Also I couldn’t sit in this position with a straight back for too long, so I decided to lean up against a wall. I believe that this will get better with time. However, I might just sit in a chair like Laura suggested and be comfortable!
The other thing I found was that during the bioenergetic breathing, more so during the faster sections, my nose began to sting as if the air I was breathing in was really cold (the air temperature was only about 22 degrees Celsius. or 72 F). I had to cease breathing entirely through my nose and breath through both my nose and mouth to reduce the discomfort. I guess I’ll have to change my technique, or perhaps it will lessen with time.
Anyway, I look forward to repeating the program again tonight!!!
Perceval said:
For me, one of the most striking features of it is that there is almost no sense that the air is flowing in through either the mouth or the nose. The draw on the air is created by the contraction of the muscles at the back of the throat. When you deliberately breath through your nose your nostrils flare a little and you feel the air passing in. When you breath deliberately through your mouth you feel the air on your teeth and tongue. But with pipe breathing the sensations are absent. Like I sad, it's almost like the air is being pulled by the muscles at the back of the mouth and throat, so maybe it is the air that is already in the mouth and nasal passages that is being inhaled.
About the feeling that no air is passing through the nose when doing the pipe breath inhalation: I agree with that, and the first time I did it I was wondering where the air was coming from that I was inhaling. My mouth was closed, so not that way; my nose had no sensation of air passing through it, so it didn’t seem to be going that way either. However a simple test -- blocking one’s nose and trying to breath in with pipe breath, which is impossible -- confirms that yes, indeed the air is being inhaled through one’s nose, and does not come from within one’s mouth!
Polonel said:
I tried this technique [mirror gazing] a few years ago and, yes, it produces "effects" for sure, I was able to see my face "changing" too, but I decided not to renew the experience because, well, it was creepy.
I tried this once or twice in the past, and you’re damn right it’s creepy. I saw all manner of faces staring back at me in the mirror -- people in my family, total strangers, evil faces -- you name it. It sent chills down my spine and just thinking about it creeps me out. Needless to say, never again!