Andrew Weil’s Relaxing Breath

Andrew Weil’s Relaxing Breath

Weil’s technique is shockingly simple, takes hardly any time, and can be done anywhere in five steps. Although you can do the exercise in any position, it’s recommended to sit with your back straight while learning the exercise. Weil explains to “place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth and keep it there through the entire exercise. You will be exhaling through your mouth around your tongue; try pursing your lips slightly if this seems awkward.” This is followed by the five-step procedure listed below:

1) Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.

2) Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.

3) Hold your breath for a count of seven.

4) Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.

5) This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths…After awhile you can increase the cycle to eight breaths if you like.

Weil emphasizes the most important part of this process is holding your breath for eight seconds. This is because keeping the breath in will allow oxygen to fill your lungs and then circulate throughout the body. It is this that produces a relaxing effect in the body.

This procedure can be useful to try before you go to sleep at night. It can also be used before you decide to meditate or visualize (imaging in your mind). It can also be used before reciting some affirmations or mantras you would like to try.