Practice Session - 26/6/2012
Meditationtime Forum Post
Date: Posted 5 years before Jul 31, 2017
Thomer Scheepens 5 years ago
Good Evening all!
Did today a session of 1 hour of Bhastrika only.
I gave up on Kapalbhati. it's true that on start it's a little bit harder to do Bhastrika, but later in practice nostrils and abdomen gets so free and open that I can inhale and exhale very fast and strong enough almost very automatic, for me I find it much more comfortable and easier than doing Kapalbhati.
As usual did the standard kundalini raising posture, at some point I felt that there was heat going on my forehead, I can't know for sure if it's kundalini/energy related or just one of the things my psychical body does..
It's a shame I can't do that posture for more than 50 seconds, which means every round I can do only 50 or mostly 60 breaths..
Question to MB:
1. I have seen some of your videos, and some postures you do Bhastrika for about a minute and then holding breath in and doing the locks, and then doing it all over again for a couple of rounds.. is there a reason why for example not holding a posture for about 10 min and then doing the breath hold in and locks?
2. after for example having done the kundalini raising posture for 1 min, holding breath in and doing the locks, then I am about to change to another posture.. is there a difference if I breath normally during the few seconds I am switching posture, or would it benefit more while I am still holding my breath in yet to the point my body asks for air?
Kindy,
Ichigo
Alfredo 5 years ago
Hello Ichigo or shall I say Shalom?
I always follow your reports, and learn from them and from Michael's answers. Thanks.
[I gave up on Kapalbhati.] In my opinion Kapalbhati is more difficult to practice than Bhastrika, alas, it does not even feel natural, as one has to track the exhalation.
Another thing regarding nostril blockage, I use a Neti Pot and it helps.
Thomer Scheepens 5 years ago
Shalom! ; ), and thanks for your kind words, same goes for me here : )
You're opinion about Kapalbhati is exactly what I feel about it, it makes it a lot harder to concentrate.
it's good to know I am not the only one that feels that way.
Thanks for the advice, will keep that in mind!
MiBeloved 5 years ago
Thomer Scheepens wrote:
I can't do that posture for more than 50 seconds, which means every round I can do only 50 or mostly 60 breaths..
MiBeloved's Response:
50 breaths in a sequence during a posture are a good lot. It could be less. The main thing is how the system is absorbing or not absorbing the air.
Suppose I do 10 breaths and the system absorbs all of that, it would be better than 20 breaths with only a 30% absorption. Absorption rate is the thing.
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Thomer Scheepens wrote:
I have seen some of your videos, and some postures you do Bhastrika for about a minute and then holding breath in and doing the locks, and then doing it all over again for a couple of rounds.. is there a reason why for example not holding a posture for about 10 min and then doing the breath hold in and locks?
MiBeloved's Response:
This is a very interesting observation. I am glad that you made it and it shows that you might become a yogi of worth after all.
So why do I do that?
The reason is that there is no sense in pumping air in and out of the lungs if the lungs are not taking in the air. Usually after a number of breaths and it varies from day to day, the lungs simply stop absorbing the air. Yes I can keep the breathing going pass this point but what will I achieve by it. Why run the compressor if the tire valve is locked and does not take in the air and the air is just being pumped for nothing.
So you have to be sensitive enough to know when the lungs are no longer taking in the air, meaning not just taking it in but absorbing what is taken in. Then you study the situation in your psyche and see how the system is distributing the air which it took it, you let it distribute and as soon as that air is diffused, send down the line as it were, then you begin the breathing again.
If you study my videos you will see that I stop and with eyes closed and locks applied. What do you think I am doing internally all the while?
I am checking and as soon as I feel the air is distributed out through the system, I begin pumping in air again.
If you are not attentive at this time, which is the most important time, your will power will become detached from controlling the infused energy and your progress in kundalini yoga will be very slow.
Also in a certain posture there comes a time when the air which is taken in during that asana is no longer being taken in because that part of the system is filled up. Then I assume another posture and on and on until the whole system is filled up.
Kundalini is like a stray dog. This means that it is highly chaotic, except when it comes to procuring sex and pleasure gratification. It has a set routine for sex pleasure and other pleasures but with everything else, it operates in a chaotic way.
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Thomer Scheepens wrote:
after for example having done the kundalini raising posture for 1 min, holding breath in and doing the locks, then I am about to change to another posture.. is there a difference if I breath normally during the few seconds I am switching posture, or would it benefit more while I am still holding my breath in yet to the point my body asks for air?
MiBeloved's Response:
Again, I get the feeling that you are going to be a first class yogi and that is great.
I will answer the question by giving an instruction:
Do not allow the mind to go crazy on you during the practice. Do not allow the mind to chase any sensual things externally through the eye or ear or any other sense. Do not allow the mind to chase thoughts from others except from the yogi gurus during the practice.
Yogiji Harbhajan Singh told me personally, that a student who does not get this is not a yogi. Such a person should just not even practice instead of wasting time breathing like a bellows in a blacksmith shop.
Yes, between sequences of breathing in postures or in the same posture, the student should stop as you described to let the system distribute the air which it stockpiled in the blood stream near the lungs, but during this time, the student should be paying attention to the way the system is distributing the air and also to the effects it has on kundalini.
If you are doing this, then questions about breathing normally won’t arise because you will be too busy looking down in the psyche to see what is happening with the infused energy and how it is doing what it is supposed to do.
