Éiriú-Eolas - Breathing Program

[Nienna]

I'm surprised you can breathe that hard without your nose freezing and falling off! As I understand it is okay to breathe gently during the beatha or round-breathing. I don't know what effect exactly the strength of breath has, aside from turning your fingers into stiff claws. I had the impression at the beginning that beatha was supposed to be forceful, and I'm not really sure why. I had to stop that because it was painful for my nose.

None of the beatha is to be forceful. If you listen to Laura at the beginning of the beatha (Ba-Ha/round breathing) she says to breathe gently in and out in a continuous cycle. No stopping between the in out out breath. And if that fills your lungs to capacity, then that is fine. The main point is there is no stopping the breathing with a pause. It's a continuous cycle of gentle breathing. We are supposed to be relaxed during everything except the Warrior's Breath. Breathing forcefully totally disrupts the relaxation thing.

 

[Gawan]

I would like to share my experience with the EE breathing program. I have been doing the program for a couple years, but not on a regular schedule. I will have months where I do EE a couple times a week and then months when I don't do it at all. I am currently trying to do it more regularly, on Mondays and Thursdays. I used to do EE in the morning, but I am finding I like to do it more in the afternoon or evening.

[...]

Thanks for sharing your experiences mimimari.

Many other forum members have reported a tingling feeling at various points in their bodies. I have felt the same tingling sensation in my hands, arms, and face. Sometimes my face and hands becomes stuck in a certain position during the bio energetic stage, then they become unstuck during the meditation portion—hope that makes sense.

It makes sense. Our speculation is, as it was stated in Peter Levines book (at the very beginning and his own example) In an Unspoken Voice that trauma gets stored in the body and eventually during these tingling sensations during beatha or the need to move legs etc. eventually trauma may get released.

Sometimes during the program I become very thirsty for water (which is difficult to drink if my face and hands are stuck), I also start burping a lot, even if I have not eaten or drunk anything.

That is quiet common and good to have something to drink nearby.

I'm really enjoying doing EE and am thankful to Laura and everyone who helped make it possible. I have not had an emotional experience while doing the program, but it does really help me handle the anger and frustration I feel everyday.

That sounds great and there is no need to experience any emotional situations it is just a possibility :).

 

[mimimari]

There is an Eiriu Eolas FAQ here if you haven't found it yet. It's very worth reading through every now and then even if you've read it before.

Thank you monotonic, I will definitely read through the Faq sheet!

None of the beatha is to be forceful. If you listen to Laura at the beginning of the beatha (Ba-Ha/round breathing) she says to breathe gently in and out in a continuous cycle. No stopping between the in out out breath. And if that fills your lungs to capacity, then that is fine. The main point is there is no stopping the breathing with a pause. It's a continuous cycle of gentle breathing. We are supposed to be relaxed during everything except the Warrior's Breath. Breathing forcefully totally disrupts the relaxation thing.

Thanks for the advice Nienna. When I first started the program I was breathing totally wrong (using the small pencil shaped muscle) , and the idea of the stomach pushing out when you breath was really foreign to me, so I breath gently throughout and focus on training my diaphragm to get used to the proper movement. This has really helped me because I notice that when I am in a stressful situation and I need to stop and take a breath, the deep belly breathing happens kind of automatically now.

Thanks for sharing your experiences mimimari.

It makes sense. Our speculation is, as it was stated in Peter Levines book (at the very beginning and his own example) In an Unspoken Voice that trauma gets stored in the body and eventually during these tingling sensations during beatha or the need to move legs etc. eventually trauma may get released.

Thank you for pointing this out Gawan. A friend recently lent me this book and I was planning to start reading it in the next few days!

 

[Damian]

I have been doing the Eiriu-Eolas breathing program for some time now and have experienced its wonderful benefits. However I haven't been able to do it without listening to Laura's voice as I often lose count!!
I thought I would be able to get it down pat over time - but no such luck. Any thoughts tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[SeekinTruth]

I have been doing the Eiriu-Eolas breathing program for some time now and have experienced its wonderful benefits. However I haven't been able to do it without listening to Laura's voice as I often lose count!!
I thought I would be able to get it down pat over time - but no such luck. Any thoughts tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

There's nothing wrong with doing it along with Laura's audio, so you can continue doing so as long as you need. If a situation comes up where it is not possible to do it along with the audio, you can try your best to do it yourself. The easiest is to do Warrior's Breath, 3 stage breathing (or just pipe breathing without the 3 different stages), and the Prayer of the Soul, without following the audio. In other words, the only really difficult part would be Beatha/bioenergetic/round breathing, which is not recommended to do more than twice a week at most, anyway. So that's something you can try (doing the rest of the program without Beatha) on your own (without following the audio) if you'd like.

 

[Nienna]

I have been doing the Eiriu-Eolas breathing program for some time now and have experienced its wonderful benefits. However I haven't been able to do it without listening to Laura's voice as I often lose count!!
I thought I would be able to get it down pat over time - but no such luck. Any thoughts tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

There's nothing wrong with doing it along with Laura's audio, so you can continue doing so as long as you need. If a situation comes up where it is not possible to do it along with the audio, you can try your best to do it yourself. The easiest is to do Warrior's Breath, 3 stage breathing (or just pipe breathing without the 3 different stages), and the Prayer of the Soul, without following the audio. In other words, the only really difficult part would be Beatha/bioenergetic/round breathing, which is not recommended to do more than twice a week at most, anyway. So that's something you can try (doing the rest of the program without Beatha) on your own (without following the audio) if you'd like.

I totally agree. There is nothing wrong with using the CD and listening to Laura. I prefer that, actually. But, if you need, or want, to do it without the CD, what I've found works for me is using my fingers to count. I just fold a finger for each count, and then unfolding when I get over 10, keeping my hands wherever they need to be. I don't know if this will work for you, but it does for me so for what it's worth.

 

[SMM]

None of the beatha is to be forceful. If you listen to Laura at the beginning of the beatha (Ba-Ha/round breathing) she says to breathe gently in and out in a continuous cycle. No stopping between the in out out breath. And if that fills your lungs to capacity, then that is fine. The main point is there is no stopping the breathing with a pause. It's a continuous cycle of gentle breathing. We are supposed to be relaxed during everything except the Warrior's Breath. Breathing forcefully totally disrupts the relaxation thing.

Thanks for the advice Nienna. When I first started the program I was breathing totally wrong (using the small pencil shaped muscle) , and the idea of the stomach pushing out when you breath was really foreign to me, so I breath gently throughout and focus on training my diaphragm to get used to the proper movement. This has really helped me because I notice that when I am in a stressful situation and I need to stop and take a breath, the deep belly breathing happens kind of automatically now.

With gentle breathing & focussing on diaphragm, trying different positions (laying down, sitting with legs crossed) has helped me. The same thing occurs for me in stressful situations, deep belly breathing automatically to reorient. Recently my hands & feet get really warm during the meditation. It occurs on & off, although the intensity now is more notable. I didn't get to do the program before sleep last night, although did meditation in the morning, which seemed to increase focus.

That could have been related to a switch in routine. Emotionally EE has been helping me keep my head above-board during busy times when unable to process what's going on fast enough.

 

[wanderer]

I felt a sensation of happines, I don't know how to put it but I can say that I felt loved at the point of tears ( it could have been all suggestion ), this sensation happen frequently during meditation. Then happened something completely different that induced me to retreat and open the eyes, I felt a sort of ascensions movement like I was going swiftly out from the top of the head I felt really scared.

I've had the "out from the top of the head" experience a few times over the years. It feels like a wave of energy that moves up the centers/chakras. When the wave hits the crown chakra (the top of the head) the feeling becomes very intense and then goes away. It's always left me in a state of peace and joy, I'm sorry to hear that it frightened you.

I would add to the good advice here that one shouldn't attach too much significance to experiences like this that may arise in your meditation practice. Stay focused on the goal, the joy of true existence.

 

[wanderer]

I have been doing the Eiriu-Eolas breathing program for some time now and have experienced its wonderful benefits. However I haven't been able to do it without listening to Laura's voice as I often lose count!!
I thought I would be able to get it down pat over time - but no such luck. Any thoughts tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

You can use prayer beads for this. If you can't find them locally you can get them online or make you own. It's a loop of beads (@3/16" diameter) with a tassel on the end. The Hindu version has 108 beads, the Islamic has 99.

Starting at the tassel, count off the number of beads corresponding the number of repetitions you want to do and tie a piece of ribbon after the last bead. When practicing you start at the tassel and move your fingers to the next bead with each repetition until you reach your ribbon.

For counting BaHa you'll need a ribbon for each phase and one with a noticeably bigger knot on the end so you'll know you're done.

You can mark off another count going in opposite direction from the tassel.

 

[thorbiorn]

I have been doing the Eiriu-Eolas breathing program for some time now and have experienced its wonderful benefits. However I haven't been able to do it without listening to Laura's voice as I often lose count!!
I thought I would be able to get it down pat over time - but no such luck. Any thoughts tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Besides fingers I use counting to 12 in steps of three or four. One round of 12 is three steps of four or four steps of three.

 

[Infernal]

But yeah, that's my story sorry if it's off topic or took to much space.

I hear ya Debtor, an old friend of mine goes through the same thing on a regular basis. Horrible thing to watch, especially feeling so helpless to assist. As for medical problem, I got your back on that one. I'm a walking medical nightmare. Keep strong mate.

 

[mabar]

I had an different/new experience with Beatha breath, last time I did it was like 6 months ago, from physiological secondary effects –dizziness, cramps- that left me in an state of nervousness and anxious with psicological secondary effects that left me with similar states, I found myself pretty much avoiding it. Last time, one of the psychological effects was that I realized that I, in the present and past, did not like my life –although, I think I need post/work this issue, I am not doing it now.

Yesterday, after coming from work, I noticed I was in a gloom mood, worries from work, bad sales, the march's (encountered feelings about it), this country –since I have the use of reason- is very unequal, unjust, corrupt, etc … since August, we have been having teachers from CNTE (non official syndicate against education reforms) _http://www.excelsior.com.mx/comunidad/2013/09/04/917093, FUL-APPO groups (United front for the reconstruction of the popular assembly of the towns of Oaxaca), Barzonistas _http://www.excelsior.com.mx/comunidad/2013/09/05/917192 reached this week to the city. There are a lot of mass movements, what complainers complain, is fair; problem is, the city allows them to complain affecting many people directly, imagine a campament –with all the problems it has (smells-they do not have efficient wc’s, garbage, etc…- in front of your business for 2 months, your sells dropped, and you still have to pay to providers, taxes, salaries, services, etc., nowadays people complain from others that complain _http://tlalpan.info/2013/10/30/protestan-comerciantes-en-el-angel-por-planton-de-la-cnte-cierran-de-nuevo-negocios-tlalpan/, doing march's too. Or imagine that you need to take a flight, but no, it is impossible, traffic in the city is upside down, and once you get near the airport, no, too bad to you, is not allowed, teachers had blockade it. Or you need to get to work, no, too bad to you, you are stop in traffic., etc, etc, etc,. Sorry for the off topic, I thought it could help to understand my frustration? But as always with everything it could be worst, like cities in Syria.



AH! Another curious thing happend, I received a gift, from the florist, I see him every day in an avenue at night, he give me one rose, it improve my mood somehow, I thank him and to the universe, just when I was feeling gloom, I receive a flower, I love flowers. :)

So then, yesterday, It was in my mind to do the Tubular, Warriors and Meditation from EE program, but with other worries –other pendings that I still have to do, I was with the intention of not doing EE, until there was a moment that I realized that, time for it wont come back either, so I did it. After Warrior’s, somehow my body move to lay down and do the Beatha, it surprises me, because it was not my intention, sometimes body knows best? … and I did it. After it, I felt something curious, I felt energized? … that is the more accurate word I could find for describing that state, like when you start your car and is ready to run?, then I enter to meditation and zoned out.

Edited: link

 

[Lucius]

The day before I have taken crystal in my hand before going to sleep, and ask "What I can do in my life, for what I must prepare"
It was 2:20 at night ( can't sleep ) After doing 15 mint EE I gone to the Instant dream about Big Flood and how to survive this flood.. and what to do.

I don't have much time to write at forum, But I'm Still here...

Greeting
Lucas
Poland

 

[Gawan]

I had an different/new experience with Beatha breath, last time I did it was like 6 months ago, from physiological secondary effects –dizziness, cramps- that left me in an state of nervousness and anxious with psicological secondary effects that left me with similar states, I found myself pretty much avoiding it. Last time, one of the psychological effects was that I realized that I, in the present and past, did not like my life –although, I think I need post/work this issue, I am not doing it now.

Yesterday, after coming from work, I noticed I was in a gloom mood, worries from work, bad sales, the march's (encountered feelings about it), this country –since I have the use of reason- is very unequal, unjust, corrupt, etc … since August, we have been having teachers from CNTE (non official syndicate against education reforms) _http://www.excelsior.com.mx/comunidad/2013/09/04/917093, FUL-APPO groups (United front for the reconstruction of the popular assembly of the towns of Oaxaca), Barzonistas _http://www.excelsior.com.mx/comunidad/2013/09/05/917192 reached this week to the city. There are a lot of mass movements, what complainers complain, is fair; problem is, the city allows them to complain affecting many people directly, imagine a campament –with all the problems it has (smells-they do not have efficient wc’s, garbage, etc…- in front of your business for 2 months, your sells dropped, and you still have to pay to providers, taxes, salaries, services, etc., nowadays people complain from others that complain _http://tlalpan.info/2013/10/30/protestan-comerciantes-en-el-angel-por-planton-de-la-cnte-cierran-de-nuevo-negocios-tlalpan/, doing march's too. Or imagine that you need to take a flight, but no, it is impossible, traffic in the city is upside down, and once you get near the airport, no, too bad to you, is not allowed, teachers had blockade it. Or you need to get to work, no, too bad to you, you are stop in traffic., etc, etc, etc,. Sorry for the off topic, I thought it could help to understand my frustration? But as always with everything it could be worst, like cities in Syria.

As you wrote yourself opening a topic for example in the swamp may be helpful :).

So then, yesterday, It was in my mind to do the Tubular, Warriors and Meditation from EE program, but with other worries –other pendings that I still have to do, I was with the intention of not doing EE, until there was a moment that I realized that, time for it wont come back either, so I did it. After Warrior’s, somehow my body move to lay down and do the Beatha, it surprises me, because it was not my intention, sometimes body knows best? … and I did it. After it, I felt something curious, I felt energized? … that is the more accurate word I could find for describing that state, like when you start your car and is ready to run?, then I enter to meditation and zoned out.

The energized feeling I experienced myself from time to time too, especially after the program. And I would agree that your body knows best what is good for the body.

The day before I have taken crystal in my hand before going to sleep, and ask "What I can do in my life, for what I must prepare"
It was 2:20 at night ( can't sleep ) After doing 15 mint EE I gone to the Instant dream about Big Flood and how to survive this flood.. and what to do.

Have you generally problems with sleeping? Eventually it could be of help sleeping in total darkness?

Are You Getting Enough Sleep? Sleeping properly?

And what for a crystal did you use or what did you expect from a crystal?

 

[mabar]

As you wrote yourself opening a topic for example in the swamp may be helpful :).

Ah! yes, it helps to pour out -as in my case, I would say: trifle's plethora of everyday's life. Need to differentiate between threads themes and coordinate with (my) time posting, so in that order I stop to doing off topic-ing, because now that I think of it? ... I think I have been doing that recently.
Thanks for the reminder. :)