"Breathe !" - Vol. 1 is music and sounds designed specifically for Yoga Breath practice (Pranayama), and Prana rejuvenation. In this first volume of 84-minutes, there are 8 tracks, consisting of:
Breath Ratios (7 tracks) at 60-BPM, for helping to regulate the breath and flow of Prana Life-force / energy) and for developing relaxation;
"Breathe !" (1 track) - Prana Retention Ratios at 60-BPM (20-min), for developing a practice of increasing the Exhale Breath, and thus promoting Prana Retention (retaining Life-force, Vital Air, energy);
"The Sea Buoy" (1 track) - Relaxation Breath Ratio Exercise at 55-BPM, using the sounds of the Sea, and a Sea Buoy Bell to help regulate the breathing rhythm, and promote a deep relaxation through a 4-beat inhalation, 4 -beat retention, 4-beat exhalation, and 4-beat retention.
Breath Ratios help to regulate the breath and Prana (life-force / energy).
Zen Pranayama Practice Using Breath Ratios:
Practice Breath Ratios with caution - staying within a comfortable ratio and gradually expanding the breath ratio only when you feel comfortable to advance to the next ratio.
The Breath Ratio is first presented with a "Stick Click" sound (an audible click sound), for example:
Breath Ratio 6:0:6:0 at 60 BPM in the Key of F (in the resonant frequency of the Heart Chakra, Anahata), with Stick Click - this means a count of 6-seconds INHALE, no PAUSE or HOLD (RETENTION), then a count of 6-seconds EXHALE, followed by no PAUSE or HOLD (SUSPENSION), at 60 Beats-Per-Minute (which is a recommended time count for developing Relaxation.
The 'CLICK' assists the listener in finding that ratio and enabling them to stay on beat to achieve that timing, or RATIO. The second version is 'CLEAN', that is: without the click sound, enabling the listener to practice 'CLEAN', or without the aid of the click.
6:2:6:2 is a count of 6-seconds INHALE, 2-seconds PAUSE or HOLD (RETENTION), then a count of
6-seconds EXHALE, followed 2-seconds PAUSE or HOLD (SUSPENSION).
TRACKS
BREATH RATIOS:
Track 1- Breath Ratio 6:0:6:0 at 60 BPM / Key of F (with Stick Click)
Track 2 - Breath Ratio 6:0:6:0 at 60 BPM / Key of F (Clean)
Track 3 - Breath Ratio 6:2:6:2 at 60 BPM / Key of F (with Stick Click)
Track 4 - Breath Ratio 6:2:6:2 at 60 BPM / Key of F (Clean)
Track 5 - Breath Ratio 6:4:6:4 at 60 BPM / Key of F (with Stick Click)
Track 6 - Breath Ratio 6:4:6:4 at 60 BPM / Key of F (Clean)
BREATH RATIO PRACTICE - For Developing More PRANA Through Extended Exhale and Retention:
Track 7 - "Breathe !" - Breath Ratio Practice for Developing Prana Retention. This is a Prana Restorative and Retention Exercise (Practice 1 - 20-minutes)
This breath ratio practice is intended for use as a guided breath exercise, to help increase the exhale breath, and retention after exhale. Practice by breathing through the nose (both Inhale and Exhale), and keep the breath low and soft and subtle… inaudibly breathing (no sound). It begins at a gentle count of 3:3:4:4 (seconds), and gently increases to 4:4:6:6 count, with a little bell to mark the beginning of every ratio increase.
Breath Count in Seconds:
Bell 1 - Breath Ratio 3 : 3 : 4 : 4 / 6 Rounds (In: 3 sec / Pause: 3 sec / Ex: 4 sec / Pause: 4 sec)
Bell 2 - Breath Ratio 3 : 3 : 4 : 5 / 6 Rounds
Bell 3 - Breath Ratio 3 : 3 : 5 : 5 / 6 Rounds
Bell 4 - Breath Ratio 3 : 4 : 5 : 5 / 6 Rounds
Bell 5 - Breath Ratio 4 : 4 : 5 : 5 / 6 Rounds
Bell 6 - Breath Ratio 4 : 4 : 5 : 6 / 6 Rounds
Bell 7 - Breath Ratio 4 : 4 : 6 : 6 / 28 Rounds
Minimal Inhale breath (Puraka / Antara), with Retention after Inhale (Puraka / Antara Kumbhaka), and gradually, incrementally extending the Exhale breath (Recaka / Bahya), and the Suspension after Exhale (Recaka / Bahya Kumbhaka). Expand the breath into the abdomen and lungs, while keeping the chest passive, and the breath slow, subtle, low and soft.
The intention (Bhavana) is to help a person to progressively move towards slightly longer Exhales, and Exhale Suspension, or light holds.
BREATH EXERCISE - To Promote Relaxation:
Track 8 - "The Sea Buoy" - Breath Ratio: 4:4:4:4 at 55-BPM
INHALE - 4-seconds
RETENTION (PAUSE) - 4-seconds
EXHALE - 4-seconds
SUSPENSION (PAUSE) - 4-seconds
This track and breath practice is very useful in developing Relaxation. Float with the relaxing resonance of the sea, breathing slowly IN and OUT in time with the Breath sounds; the beginning of each timed segment (and the change to a new Breath Ratio increase) is signalled by the sound of a bell.
Testimonial from Yoga Teacher and Author, Megan McDonough:
"Shanthi, a Buddhist yogi and healing music artist, combines sounds that resonate with the subtle energy centers of the body and mind... sometimes I swear I hear the sounds reverberating through my brain, as if they are originating from inside me instead of from the speakers".
"The track that I find myself going back to again and again is called The Sea Buoy. I’ve always been partial to the sound of the ocean — nothing gets me more relaxed than hearing waves lapping (or even crashing) against the shore. On this track, Shanthi has used the rhythm of waves to guide long, slow breaths. He describes this track as perfect for pranayama (breathing) exercise. With 55 beats-per-minute, the music is suited for a 4 beat inhalation, 4 beat retention, 4 beat exhalation, and 4 beat retention".
"That works, but I’ve also found that using this music for savasana automatically attunes the breath to the slow, rhythmic breathing without any conscious effort on the part of the practitioner. You just let your body go and the sounds carry your breath. There’s nothing to do, only to be, while the waves of sound wash through you". - Megan McDonough – Yoga Instructor and Author: founder, "Yoga with Megan", and "Mindful Marketing"
Total Duration: 83:57
