Breath of Fire Meditation

By: Emily Ridout, 889 Yoga Co-Founder, Meditation Teacher

“When the path is blocked, back-up and see more of the way.” ~Mark Nepo

I have been practicing this meditation first thing in the morning for 45 days and it has un-blocked so many things for me. Try doing it for 40 days and feel (and see!) the change in your life! It’s unreal.

Releasing Blocks Meditation, aka Breath of Fire

WHY:
We practice this meditation to bust through blocks and to release negativity so we can flow more in our lives. The breath of fire charges the electromagnetic field around our being and centres you into your power to magnetize. It brings you back to your inner compass so that the most authentic un-blocked YOU is here to serve the world from a place of love.

TIME:
Only 3 minutes!!

THE POSITION:
Come to a comfortable seated meditation position (with your hips higher than your knees) or you can come to a seated position in a chair with your feet firmly planted. I often do this meditation on my knees or standing with my feet firmly planted as well. Place your arms straight up at 60 degrees. Make a fist with your thumbs out (like giving a thumbs up and like you’re plugging your thumbs into the sky).

THE GAZE:
Your eyes should be closed and if you can, gaze up towards your third eye. This gaze adds a bit more difficulty to the pose. Too complicated? Add it later when you are rocking the posture and breathing in a month!

THE BREATH:
All breathing is through the nose.
Inhalation: belly expands away from the spine
Exhalation: belly contracts towards the spine
Pulse the breath so that the inhalation is effort free and the exhalation is where the power is used. You are literally pushing blocks out of your way with your breath.

THE VISUALIZATION:
Visualize all of the blocks in your life flowing our of your thumbs. They no longer serve you! Get rid of them!

MODIFICATIONS:
If you find the breathing challenging enough to begin with, keep the arms down. Visualize them up in the air at 60 degrees.
Try doing this to your favourite UPBEAT song pumping super loud and PULSE your breath in and out to the beat of the music. An example of a slower pace breath song is Wilco’s “Jesus, etc“.
A faster paced breath example would be One Rebuplic’s “The Good Life“. (I LOVE THIS ONE! There is a medium fast beat and a super fast beat)

THE END:
Take your last deep inhalation, hold the breath, bring the thumbs to touch above the head. Interlace your fingers together and HOLDING THE BREATH, reach forward then back then to one side and the other. Bring your palms to touch in prayer above your head and on the EXHALE circle your arms all the way out beside you slowly creating a beautiful aura. Land your hands in your lap, palms facing up. Stay in silence with your eyes closed for a few minutes. Feel the tingling sensation you have created in your body.

THE PRAYER:
Pray for Peace. “I am peace” or “I am love”. Say the mantra in two parts. On the inhalation, say in your mind “I am” and then on the exhale “Peace/Love”.
Pray for someone who is blocking you. Bring to mind a person who is blocking you from being your truest loving self in service. Focus on the stubborn thing coming from them right now. Try widening your heart’s view (like Mark Nepo says to ‘when the path is blocked, back up and see more of the way’) and see the whole person, their stubbornness and all. Breathe and feel the difficulty that is theirs, as well as the entirety of their spirit which causes you to love them.

I look forward to hearing your stories of busting through blocks! Remember to try this one in the morning before any stimulation (kids, coffee, shower, emails, voicemails, news, newspaper) and feel and see the difference.

With gratitude + LOVE,

Emily

Come and sit with us!

At 889 we believe in the power of meditation in your life. I welcome you to join us for our one-hour seated meditation practice every Monday from 5-6pm. The practice is comprised of 2 guided meditations, discussion (with tea!), and concludes with a short meditation. This is a karma by-donation class. We do not collect money for 889, rather donations for New Leaf Yoga Foundation.