Éiriú-Eolas - Breathing Program

[Ollie]

I am proofreading the Dutch translations of the EE brochure and website and I had a couple of questions.

Would it be a good idea to include Peter Levine's 'In an Unspoken Voice' and Wilson's 'Redirect' in the booklist? The books that are recommended focus on the physical side of things. Perhaps, it is also practical if people know how to deal with traumas in another way?
I know that Peter Levine mentions in his book that pounding on pillows to release anger and outrage can be addictive. I cannot quote the text, as I have lent my book to somebody.
Or do the issues of anger get resolved over time, as one progresses more and more with EE?
Levine mentions a couple of exercises that help contain arousal (with pictures). I am wondering whether there are other ways to deal with anger and outrage? Maybe journalling as Anart suggested above. Or Wilson's exercises?

Imo it would be an idea doing it that way, merely as suggestions, but other opinions would be needed. Merely as suggestions, cause most EE teachers are not therapists to deal with hard traumas and the program should be there to provide tools to relax and to calm down and maybe more which it does perfectly.

Hi Gawan,

Yes, merely suggestions. Just to offer people some more guidance perhaps by people who are in the know?
...

As highlighted above, EE practiced consistently over time may well take sufficient care of what you are talking about. The question arises, though, are 'the people' you are talking about prepared to do EE on a consistent basis, or will they be impatient and abandon doing EE as they are unable to see an immediate effect? Ditto for journalling as Anart suggested above. Or Wilson's exercises? Food for thought.

As for my own experiences of EE:
My experiences of doing EE (‘formal’, global) in the past week are similar to my last post, with the exception of zoning out towards the end of PotS last Thursday.

 

[Gawan]

Thanks Gawan, no, it was not a private question. I was just wondering what more people can do when they feel this outrage coming to the surface, besides pounding pillows (which is of course a safe outlet). Outrage has always been a major issue in my life. And I can imagine that many men have these issues, too. So, what else can we offer as suggestions so that people can safely work through their outrage? Or does it disappear quickly, these feelings of outrage?

I agree with PS it would be a question of time, if there are constant students or not and if they are interested. And tips could be given but not fail proof suggestions what to do with anger. But this is a big if :).

Anyway, have you read the topic: The Angry Book? And there should be another book too about anger, but don't have it at hand right now.

 

[Gwenllian]

I am proofreading the Dutch translations of the EE brochure and website and I had a couple of questions.

Would it be a good idea to include Peter Levine's 'In an Unspoken Voice' and Wilson's 'Redirect' in the booklist? The books that are recommended focus on the physical side of things. Perhaps, it is also practical if people know how to deal with traumas in another way?
I know that Peter Levine mentions in his book that pounding on pillows to release anger and outrage can be addictive. I cannot quote the text, as I have lent my book to somebody.
Or do the issues of anger get resolved over time, as one progresses more and more with EE?
Levine mentions a couple of exercises that help contain arousal (with pictures). I am wondering whether there are other ways to deal with anger and outrage? Maybe journalling as Anart suggested above. Or Wilson's exercises?

Imo it would be an idea doing it that way, merely as suggestions, but other opinions would be needed. Merely as suggestions, cause most EE teachers are not therapists to deal with hard traumas and the program should be there to provide tools to relax and to calm down and maybe more which it does perfectly.

Hi Gawan,

Yes, merely suggestions. Just to offer people some more guidance perhaps by people who are in the know?
...

As highlighted above, EE practiced consistently over time may well take sufficient care of what you are talking about. The question arises, though, are 'the people' you are talking about prepared to do EE on a consistent basis, or will they be impatient and abandon doing EE as they are unable to see an immediate effect? Ditto for journalling as Anart suggested above. Or Wilson's exercises? Food for thought.

We could say then that if people experience a lot of anger that this will subside with continued practise and they might wish to journal or read Wilson, if they think it is a bit much? But in particular, stress again that these feelings will go away, if one continues to practise EE.

Wow, Gawan, that title 'The Angry Book' sounds promising. :) I hadn't heard of it. I will have a look and read the thread. Thanks!

 

[Timey]

Had an interesting experience with the meditation two nights ago.
I "saw" two people running at me with red and green flares. The brightness of the light did that thing were it "burns" your eyes and leaves a little tracer of white light in your vision. Was pretty cool, if not a little strange.

 

[Deleted member 4320]

I think this Prayer has its truly powerfull when he is spoken in the intention of the other person. It could be a spouse or a friend, but, this has a striking effect. It is quite too late for me, but I will try to describe this in the "future". I think it has an impact on how we create connections between self, so.... Oh I think PotS with intention with FotCM tonight would be interesting...

 

[Zadius Sky]

Not much to report. Doing the full program twice a week. Been zoning out more than usual these past two weeks. Sometimes, it begins with pipe breathing and came to during the POTS, and other times, zoned out during Beatha and came to after POTS. It could be contributed by a physical exhaustion from working, though.

 

[Ollie]

For the last three weeks my experience of the Monday and Thursday sessions of EE has followed a similar pattern, wet-eyes ad yawning during three-stage pipe breathing following directly into PotS, where I’ve experienced a restless right leg and tears running down my face, and last night, waves of contraction taking place in my abdomen.

 

[Minas Tirith]

I am usually doing the program as a whole: Pipe, Warrior, Baha, but would like to incorporate it more into my daily routines.
So what if I have twenty minutes in the morning, for example, would the Pipe breath section be more recommended than the Baha?
Warrior is pretty stimulating for me, so not advisable in the evening?

Thank you for your help!
EmmeYa

 

[Ollie]

I am usually doing the program as a whole: Pipe, Warrior, Baha, but would like to incorporate it more into my daily routines.
So what if I have twenty minutes in the morning, for example, would the Pipe breath section be more recommended than the Baha?
Warrior is pretty stimulating for me, so not advisable in the evening?

Thank you for your help!
EmmeYa

For your twenty minutes in the morning, pipe breathing may be a more effective path to follow. Baha really needs to be followed by pipe breathing to bring you back to 'normality', similarly for Warrior. Warrior is great for really waking up in the morning. :)

Also, remember that you may do pipe breathing at any time during the day(whilst working, doing chores, gardening, even when driving - as long as your hands are on the wheel, it doesn't have to be out-loud - it can be done silently - what is important is the constricted breathing, and before going to sleep to wind down, etc), any time that you feel stressed.

 

[Carl]

I also find that if I'm feeling stressed in the morning about commitments that I have to fulfill on that day, taking 15 minutes to sit in silence and recite PoTS before I leave the house really helps me keep a cool head throughout the day. The effect it has can't be measured, but it is noticeable if you pay attention.

 

[Alana]

I am usually doing the program as a whole: Pipe, Warrior, Baha, but would like to incorporate it more into my daily routines.
So what if I have twenty minutes in the morning, for example, would the Pipe breath section be more recommended than the Baha?
Warrior is pretty stimulating for me, so not advisable in the evening?

Thank you for your help!
EmmeYa

For your twenty minutes in the morning, pipe breathing may be a more effective path to follow. Baha really needs to be followed by pipe breathing to bring you back to 'normality', similarly for Warrior.

Also remember that the Baha is only recommended for twice a week, maximum, and not for daily practice.

 

[Minas Tirith]

Thanks! I read the thread regularly when I started EE six months ago, but seem to have forgotten quite a bit.

I started with doing the full program twice a week, but feel now that it is not enough.
I will try and do more pipe and warrior then, keeping the Baha to twice a week.

Sometimes I listen to this after my practice:

http://allenbranson.com/cassproj/cedarflute_meditation_sample.mp3

when not doing the whole Pots. It is a nice ending.

EmmeYa

 

[Graalsword]

Today I had like little several 'zoing outs' that lasted very few seconds each. No news regarding EE further than that.

 

[Ollie]

My experiences of EE this week are as follows: Monday, the usual wet-eyes and yawns during three-stage pipe breathing, followed by mega-yawns and tears running down my face during PotS, and, my right hand firmly clenching my left hand; Thursday, it was similar, with the exception that during PotS the physicality was a restless right leg and foot.

 

[Timey]

Sometimes when I do the meditation section I get really nice body sensations. They can be quite intense sometimes, almost overwhelming. So much so that my breathing slows right down. However, I'm still completely "there". There isn't any zoning out or anything.

This has happened with normal meditation as well, although it is a lot less intense than what happens with EE.

Is this normal?