Éiriú-Eolas - Breathing Program

[DianaRose]

Thank you Laura!!

 

[EmeraldHope]

I had a sensation yesterday that was quite odd, and it has continued on into today. I will post as I am interested if anyone else has had this sensation. I had a few memories come up very rapidly in visual form, accompanied by a feeling in the third eye area. It felt like a ball of twine unraveling, or tingling, or like a ball bursting. On and off all day today, I have been feeling lesser intensities of this in the same area. It is not painful at all, just prickly or tingly. This was during meditaion that this happened.

 

[Gawan]

Well it was this image of Sandy's mum that just popped into my head right at the final Baha. Quite hard to put into words, but just all emotional floodgates opened? I cried for a long time, feeling pain and hurt and loss like i've never really felt before? For a few moments I felt really 'hopeless'. I've never experienced real loss before like the loss of a parent or a loved one? I've had crying moments during the EE before but this was for myself, at my own bad choices and actions over the years, and hurt i've felt from others.. but this was really different, feeling this hurt at what Sandy's mum must have been feeling...... I didn't know what to make of it, all I could do was think of her and dedicate my thoughts and experience that night to her (if she would accept it..) during the POTS. I wondered why I thought of Sandy's mum after all these years?

Maybe her face did impress you at this time and with that all that sadness you may have not expressed during that particular time came out during the beatha portion.

 

[Gertrudes]

I had a sensation yesterday that was quite odd, and it has continued on into today. I will post as I am interested if anyone else has had this sensation. I had a few memories come up very rapidly in visual form, accompanied by a feeling in the third eye area. It felt like a ball of twine unraveling, or tingling, or like a ball bursting. On and off all day today, I have been feeling lesser intensities of this in the same area. It is not painful at all, just prickly or tingly. This was during meditaion that this happened.

Hi EmeraldHope,

Interesting you should mention that. I have not had the rapid appearance of memories that you described, but I have been having "sensations" in the third eye area for a few months. It used to be only during EE, but now I feel it every so often when not doing EE.

I have two distinct sensations. One is of a very strong pressure in the forehead that can be painful, but it usually lasts only for a few seconds. I have the feeling that when I focus on it it goes away, but I'm not sure. The other is of something going through my forehead, it literally feels like a ray going through it or something of the sort. This is the one I feel more often. Sometimes this "ray" is accompanied by the feeling of a ball that swirls, or tingles. This is the one I feel less often.

 

[zhenqing]

To tell you the truth, up till now I've not practiced EE diligently. I did the whole program a couple of times in summer, and a couple of times in autumn/winter. You can say I had some kind of mental (and physical) blockages, which also spread on other areas of my life. I had trouble staying on diet, trouble with keeping promises to myself and to finish what I've started - basically with my will. And it was like that my entire life.

At some point, things have changed.

First, around the time I started doing EE, I've become aware that somehow my depression is gone. I don't know exactly how this happened. It's like I woke up one day and I felt lighter. I couldn't sense it anymore, but before I was always able to. For many years, depression was attached to me like Siamese twin. Always there. But it's eight months now, and since that time, I've never felt its presence again. I get angry, sometimes. Sad too, but not for long. Not depressed, though. I'm facing life and all it brings me with a smile on my face. I'm having faith in DCM. And faith in myself.

Are those changes the result of EE? I think so. Why? Because I've fought with depression for years, and nothing really had profound effect on me. I understood the reasons behind my depression, but couldn't get rid of it for good. There were periods when I felt quite alright, in rare occasions even happy, but then I always got worse. I find it utterly amazing that I'm completely free of it now. I'm a different person.

Second big change in my life happened quite recently. I started to notice that I have stronger will. Around end of November I began another approach on diet and I have been faithful to it ever since. This is the longest time in my record, and deep down I know that this time it's for good. I'm not going back to gluten, dairy & co. ever again.
I also finish my projects now! When I intend to do something, I do it (well, most of it anyway; my will still has to be worked on, but it's so much better - it was always one of my biggest issues).

Most recent change - I have been doing EE regularly since two weeks ago (better this late then never, right?). For now, full program on every Monday and POTS every night. But I hope I could soon switch to 'twice a week' schedule. My back/shoulder pain is getting in a way (sitting straight is hard), but I'm working on that.
I can say without doubt that I've never been so stress-free, relaxed and happy as I am now. EE is amazing. I'm really curious, though what will I experience if I practice it regularly for a longer period of time. I'm super excited to find out!

Two quick questions about POTS:
1. How long should I meditate? Right now, I do six prayers and then fall asleep, but maybe I should double it? Or make it twenty?

2. I'm doing it by myself, without Laura's voice saying the prayer or music background, because I find it easier to synchronize the breathing. Is it correct to do that?

I plan to catch up to this tread and read all the posts, but it will take time, and I'm not sure I do everything properly right now. So some feedback would be much appreciated :)

Last, but not least. Thank you, Laura and Psyche for developing this wonderful program!



edit: need to add my gratefulness (I was tired and forgot about it )

 

[Mountain Crown]

[quote author=zhenqing]1. How long should I meditate? Right now, I do six prayers and then fall asleep, but maybe I should double it? Or make it twenty?[/quote]

I don’t think it’s necessary to establish a length of time; however a specific aim would be fine imo, as long as nothing is anticipated.

2. I'm doing it by myself, without Laura's voice saying the prayer or music background, because I find it easier to synchronize the breathing. Is it correct to do that?

Yes. On the tape Laura states that is the intention.

 

[Ollie]

... My back/shoulder pain is getting in a way (sitting straight is hard), but I'm working on that. ...

You may like to do all but PotS standing up, or do the whole session lying down, except Warriors breath. I stand for Pipe breathing and Warriors breath, sit for BaHa and lie down for PotS, as this is the most comfortable way for me. :)

This may help or not.

 

[Hildegarda]

... My back/shoulder pain is getting in a way (sitting straight is hard), but I'm working on that. ...

I stand for Pipe breathing and Warriors breath, sit for BaHa and lie down for PotS, as this is the most comfortable way for me. :)

and I sit for Pipe breathing, either sit or stand for the Warrior's breath, and lie down for both BaHa and PotS. You would probably definitely want to be upright in some way for the Warrior's breath, otherwise there are many options that suit your body.

I had a few memories come up very rapidly in visual form, accompanied by a feeling in the third eye area. It felt like a ball of twine unraveling, or tingling, or like a ball bursting.

One is of a very strong pressure in the forehead that can be painful, but it usually lasts only for a few seconds. [..] The other is of something going through my forehead, it literally feels like a ray going through it or something of the sort. This is the one I feel more often. Sometimes this "ray" is accompanied by the feeling of a ball that swirls, or tingles.

I have those too, accompanied by a similar opening feeling in the crown area. I have had them also before when doing reiki.

 

[zhenqing]

Thank you for your suggestion Trevrizent, Hildegarda. Right now I sit (cross-legged) for Pipe Breathing and Warriors Breath, sit (but with my back resting against the wall) for Ba-Ha and lie for POTS. I will try lying for Ba-Ha and see how it works for me :)

I don’t think it’s necessary to establish a length of time; however a specific aim would be fine imo, as long as nothing is anticipated.

I asked, because I don't know much about meditation process. I thought maybe it is more beneficial to do it longer.

As for anticipating, I don't do that, I think. When I began with EE I didn't know what to expect, so I expect nothing (I thought about it as a way of doing Work). And got surprised by the results.

Thank you for answering my questions, Jerry.

 

[Ollie]

On Monday, I had wet eyes during BaHa, ditto on Thursday along with yawning and wet eyes during PotS. Whilst reciting PotS in bed on Tuesday, I had wet eyes too, yawning too.

Whilst on the subject of yawning, on another thread, Laura posted the following:

The yawning is an oxygenation/detox response that is normal when you are very toxic and start stimulating the vagus nerve.

Well I’ve been yawning whilst doing EE for the past nearly two years. What with EE, diets, supplements and FIR sauna sessions I feel as if I’ve been detoxing all that time too. Not too surprising when you read this SotT article Why You Need to Detoxify 24 Hours a Day

 

[Graalsword]

Yesterday, at the beginning of POTS (after the few breathings and just before the beginning of the first line of the prayer) I saw a strong shining white light as though it was directed towards my eyes, not around me but a kind of focus before my eyes, to the point that I had to open my eyes because I thought that a physical light was turned on. My room was mostly dark, I had lights off, and only a bit of light that entered through the window. My immediate thought was that someone turned on a strong light int he building in front of mine and that that light reflected in some area of my room, when I opened my eyes such light was not there, so it seems it was not physical. Next time I will keep my eyes closed to see what happens, obviously this time the light went away after opening my eyes and getting out of the relaxed state for a few seconds.

Then, I zoned out and fell asleep for 3 hours since the middle of POTS.

... My back/shoulder pain is getting in a way (sitting straight is hard), but I'm working on that. ...

I stand for Pipe breathing and Warriors breath, sit for BaHa and lie down for PotS, as this is the most comfortable way for me. :)

and I sit for Pipe breathing, either sit or stand for the Warrior's breath, and lie down for both BaHa and PotS. You would probably definitely want to be upright in some way for the Warrior's breath, otherwise there are many options that suit your body.

In general I sit for most of the program, except that I lie down for POTS. However the last 2 or 3 times, I lied down for pipe breathing, stand up for warriors bth, sit for beatha, and lie down again for POTS. However, I noticed that although it is very comfortable, when lying down for pipe breath, my lungs don't expand as well as doing it sat or standing up.

I've been yawning too, mostly in pipe breath and beatha.

 

[SolarMother]

Today I am devoting some time strictly for this important EE thread, which I am so far behind in. In fairly recent posting, I am noticing others speak of crying or tears during various stages of the program. I have also experienced sadness and tears in all parts of the program, especially the last 2 weeks or so.
For awhile I was doing BaHa twice a week, now it is once a week--sometimes I skip a week. I have also been experiencing chest constriction at night, for many weeks, which feels like unidentified fear, but I am not sure. I posted about this on the EE forum as well. This chest 'pain' keeps me up at night, so for several weeks I have been doing the EE program just about every night (except for the round. breathing) in bed in the middle of the night, which helps me go back to sleep usually. What happens is that I wake up suddenly and then within a few seconds the anxiety felt in the chest begins. This also happens often when I first go to bed at night (in a darkened room) or when I wake up in the morning.
Anyone else experiencing this? When I posted on the EE forum someone suggested it could be pent up grief inside of me (the chest constriction.) So far, I have not sobbed as I have in the past when releasing much sorrow or grief. This happened last summer soon after I started the EE program (sobbing.) It just hit me like a ton of bricks and what I felt was extreme sadness for humanity at large.
I often say the POTS to myself at any time day or night, but rarely do pipe breathing during the day. Sounds like this is something I should be doing. Any feed back much welcomed.

 

[pete02]

In general I sit for most of the program, except that I lie down for POTS. However the last 2 or 3 times, I lied down for pipe breathing, stand up for warriors bth, sit for beatha, and lie down again for POTS. However, I noticed that although it is very comfortable, when lying down for pipe breath, my lungs don't expand as well as doing it sat or standing up.

I've been yawning too, mostly in pipe breath and beatha.

I'm a bit confused by what you say there Graalsword. When doing the pipe breath your belly should be doing the expansion which is why lying down is more comfortable for some. Do you mean its harder for you to breathe when lying down or are you using your lungs to do the breathing?

Btw... I have also noticed more yawning myself lately. Oddly enough the tearing has slowed a lot whereas it used to be the opposite.

 

[Ollie]

Hi SolarMother

If the ‘anxiety felt in the chest’ is in the form of ‘panic’, are you taking enough GABA?

I often say the POTS to myself at any time day or night, but rarely do pipe breathing during the day. Sounds like this is something I should be doing. Any feed back much welcomed.

A good idea is to start the morning off this way, before and after breakfast, before lunch etc, or when you feel other than ‘well, stressed ‘, etc. :)

 

[aragorn]

In general I sit for most of the program, except that I lie down for POTS. However the last 2 or 3 times, I lied down for pipe breathing, stand up for warriors bth, sit for beatha, and lie down again for POTS. However, I noticed that although it is very comfortable, when lying down for pipe breath, my lungs don't expand as well as doing it sat or standing up.

I've been yawning too, mostly in pipe breath and beatha.

I'm a bit confused by what you say there Graalsword. When doing the pipe breath your belly should be doing the expansion which is why lying down is more comfortable for some. Do you mean its harder for you to breathe when lying down or are you using your lungs to do the breathing?

Btw... I have also noticed more yawning myself lately. Oddly enough the tearing has slowed a lot whereas it used to be the opposite.

I agree with Pete, it sounds like you may not be doing it right. I suspect you might be doing so called upper breathing or even reversed breathing, which is very common. In upper breathing the movement of the diaphragm is minimal and the main work of the breathing are done by: the Pectoralis minor, Sternocleidomastoid and Scalene muscles. In reversed breathing the diaphragm is completely passive, the breathing is maintained only by the emergeny breathing muscles. This is also explained very well in the EE video.

Pectoralis minor:

Sternocleidomastoid:

Scalenes:

For a complete explanation on this see: The Respiration Connection

The descent of the diaphragm and the expansion of the belly should generally work better while lying on your back. This is mainly because the abdominal muscles that are needed to support the core (External/Interior oblique & Rectus abdominis) when you are standing are relaxed.

Have you tried breathing with a book on your belly, as described in the EE instructions?

To give you a idea how the diaphragm and breathing should work have a look at this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp-gCvW8PRY

Notice in the video how the expansion of the rib cage STARTS from the lower ribs, the lower ribs are the ones you want to expand while breathing. The movement of the lower ribs also helps the diaphragm, since the outline of the diaphragm is attached to the lower ribs - they sort of stretch the diaphragm so that it flattens (descends). So, you want the belly to move out when you inhale and when you have accomplished this (not before!), you can add the thought of the lower ribs expanding to the sides.

So the most important thing is that the diaphragm descents properly. For this you need to practise and be patient. Since there's a lot of psychology involved in how we breath (one could say that our breathing is a reflection of our mental state) there's a big amount of resistance, it's hard to change a breathing pattern that you had in many many years.

One particular area that I'm' currently very interested in is the role of the solar plexus or celiac plexus . I've noticed with my singing students that this is the spot where the main resistance is for proper diaphragmatic breathing. The solar plexus is very much connected to our feelings (e.g. fear, stress, anxiety will make this area stiff). I'm in the middle of researching this, so I'll get back on this subject later. I've had VERY good results with working on relaxing and 'melting' the solar plexus area with my students. It's a good start to notice how, and at what moments this area will tighten and 'close'.