Whole Woman Breath of Fire

Submitted by Christine on December 6, 2011 - 8:08pm
Body: 

Hi Everyone,

Hark! We have yet another resource - a powerful one! - with which to move the pelvic organs forward.

Let me begin by saying that I experienced a rough patch a couple of weeks ago. Because my vagina has been permanently pulled forward through a non-sensical operation, allowing my uterus to permanently fall into the posterior space - much as an enterocele would - I have a much different condition than most of you.

Like all of you, however, I have both good and difficult times. It was nice to think that a pessary-like situation (as Grandma Joy recently described) was the ultimate crutch, until my uterus squeezed underneath my cotton-stuffed vaginal corners to prolapse even further out the back. :-/

As fate would have it, during a particularly rough time I was visited last week by a wonderful 74-year-old yogini from Fairfield, Iowa. She showed me the ancient Kundalini Breath of Fire.

It took a couple of days before it occurred to me to try it for my own prolapse symptoms! I changed it a bit to make it a more powerful tool for female prolapse and the results have been astonishing. Here I will describe the new WW Breath of Fire, which is, of course, different than WW Firebreathing:

Take the firebreathing position by bending at hips and knees and placing hands on thighs - just above the knees. You are going to take short, powerful breaths through your nose of equal duration: in-out-in-out-in-out. I measured 1 in-out per 1/2 second or roughly 20 in-out breaths per 10 seconds. This will vary according to age and ability. I do about 30 seconds at a time, but intend to work up to longer periods.

It is vital that you begin by pushing your stomach OUT on the IN-breath. All WW breathing exercises are always the same - belly OUT on the in-breath and IN on the out-breath. Try to push your belly maximally out without moving other body parts.

We demonstrated a similar belly-pumping nauli exercise in the First Aid for Prolapse video, but this is different because we are not holding a stomach vacuum, but rather pumping with the breath. If you can end a short breath-of-fire session with a few counter-clockwise nauli belly circles, so much the better.

If you are feeling particularly symptomatic, do several sets over the course of a 1/2 hour or so, alternating with strong WW posture. This really works!

I would love feedback! Alemama? Bad-mirror? Granolamom? Louise?

This is an exercise that should be safe for all, but women with cardiovascular issues need to take it slowly and check with their doctors.

:) Christine

louiseds

December 6, 2011 - 8:15pm

Don't stand up too quickly afterwards or you might get as lightheaded as I did. Probably something to do with oxygen levels. I will try again.

L

bad_mirror

December 6, 2011 - 10:21pm

So, like what Bikram's yoga does in a position like the kneeling WW seated posture, right? I had thought years ago that this was what you meant by fire breathing, before learning the WW method. In Bikram, it's done half-time first, then double time, just like you describe without the moving of body parts and belly out on the in-breath. I remember that placing hands on your belly helped coordinate belly and breath movement. Double time was a challenge to maintain the belly movement, but that was the important part. (I haven't done Bikram in years, though at one time I was obsessed with classes 2x a day on top of dancing). I will try it in both kneeling and WW position over the next couple of weeks and report back.

Christine

December 6, 2011 - 10:34pm

Thanks, BadMirror!

Although shallow, hyper-breathing might have other health benefits, I don't think that will benefit prolapsed women as much as a more forceful in-breath moving the belly (and its contents) forward. That power is best procured at a bit slower pace. Too slow and we lose the sustained momentum of the forward-moving energy.

Yes, I think sitting on soles of feet (camel pose) is probably the best way to do this, but standing position is easier for many women.

Can't wait to hear!

Christine

Grandma Joy

December 12, 2011 - 8:02pm

Hi Christine,

It does seem to work for me. I actually forgot to do it at all today. I have not been able to create a vaccuum the last two months doing regular firebreathing. Actually, haven't been able to do it as well the last year because of that infamous gyn appt. I have lost a great deal of strength with the muscle problem I have but seems the pendulum is swinging the other way again.

Just keepin' on keepin' on,
Grandma Joy

Salt

December 19, 2011 - 1:25pm

I got lightheaded too but now that I know it can happen, I'm doing it for shorter periods of time.
thanks for telling us about this great tool Christine!