Energy Cleansing Exercises: Purifying Breath

Here is a great exercise for giving yourself new energy. This is from the Second Degree Lesson #4: PURIFYING BREATH.

The following constitutes one Breath:

1. Sit or stand with the spine held erect. Completely

exhale to empty lungs of impure air.

2. Close the right nostril with the thumb of your right

hand.

3. Inhale through your left nostril to the count of 4.

4. Close the left nostril with the right forefinger, hold

breath to count of 16.

5. Raise thumb from right nostril, exhale to count of

8.

6. Repeat by leaving forefinger on left nostril and

inhaling through the right nostril to the count of 4,

etc.

Try not to force this exercise in any way, but keep the breathing as normal as possible. Should the counts listed seem to strain your breaths, lower the count to that which is comfortable for you --- for instance, 2 -8- 4, if you wish.

The exercise is so apparently simple that one is apt to be deceived as to its effective power, which is so DEFINITE it must NOT be performed too long. Repeat the exercise during the day, if you desire, but do not perform over four Breaths at any one time. To do so occasionally would not be dangerous but it must not habitually be carried beyond this count. The disciple who will not heed warnings concerning these "simple" yogic exercises is only an extremely foolish aspirant who is likely to lose his way.

In practicing this Purifying Breath, do not make the common error of attempting to discover just how much air you can inhale, or how long you can "hold" the breath. This is no endurance contest. It is meant to build, not to destroy.

The value of this simple breathing exercise can not be measured. In equalizing the nerve fluid it:

1. Tranquilizes the nerves.

2. Eases tension.

3. Induces sleep.

4. Helps balance the flow of hormones.

It can be of incomparable benefit for your physical well-being and spiritual enfoldment.