GO ASK GRACE~

Email Question:
Why is breathing emphasized so much in tantra? Don’t we do it automatically? Sounds like a lot of work to me.

Grace’s Response:

How we breathe is how we take in life, our ability to receive life, ourselves and others, especially our beloved. Consciously breathing in through your nose and out your mouth, you naturally become more alive and aware which inspires being more passionate, playful and present. Breathing consciously also helps center us and gives us a meditative practice that only takes a few minutes and can shift our attitude or entire state of mind.

Our breath houses the power to cleanse, clear and fuel our physical body.  Breathing is how we empower our bodies to function. The cleansing effect of connecting the inhale with the exhale clears surface tension from the body immediately.

The breathing mechanism of our being when utilized optimally, operates as a spiral roto-rooter cleansing and scouring our blood, emotions such as anxiety or fear and deeper crevices of tension or tightness in the body come up for clearing.

When our breathing is constricted, the amount of energy we have to do things are limited as well. A body wound too tight cannot allow much breath to flow through the muscles and constricts the blood flow and circulation to the muscles and tendons. Breathing more fully and freely immediately gives more flexibility to joints and tendons.

Diana Richardson in Heart of Tantric Sex, lists keys to Breath: “Breath brings sensuality and sensitivity to the body and propels us into the experience of the present moment.”

Breath has profound influence on our sexual and spiritual energy. Richardson agrees, “Breath bridges body and mind, anchoring us to the present moment and can, as we continue to practice staying aware of how we are breathing, unhook us from thoughts and mental process.” [More: http://www.loveforcouples.com]

Clarity of mind expands with balanced or conscious connected breathing and feeds inner awareness of space between thoughts. This meditative focus on the still point between inhale and exhale automatically relaxes the mind to drop deeper into the heart.

Deepening and slowing the breath down dissolves stress and tension easily and effortlessly. As the throat relaxes, the chest softens and your central nervous system opens up including the parasympathetic and sympathetic responsiveness in the body which enhances naturally your inner connectedness as well as opening to connect more profoundly with another.

A summer testimony from an engineer who came to see me for a series of 3 two hour sessions:

"Grace, I know I have been a bit graphic but I wanted to describe for you how your teachings have allowed me to maintain control through breathing yet enjoy the energy and love flow to the fullest. An orgasm has been secondary. This would not have been possible a few months ago. Thank you....".

Fine tuning your inner awareness individually contributes to being able to slow down and allow your consciousness to enhance loving play, expressing love as innocent children, it also helps balance the yin and yang or dance within your own body and your partner’s body.

Deeper relaxation while loving yourself or another, amps creativity by increasing energy within your body, instead of a friction or exertion focus, you allow your desire to expand which increases libido.

More authentic expression comes from a genuine inner feeling to bond or connect, not simply to get off or get to the big O hoping to feel good for longer than a few nano seconds. Confidence and self esteem develop from a willingness to be seen for who you are, innocently without pretense. As in the movie Avatar, “I see you” implies the true meaning of intimacy (into me you see) acceptance and love based on being transparent not doing or performing some great feat in the boudoir.

 Benefits of Breathing in a Conscious & Connected Way Include:

• Dissolve stress & tension, deepen into true essence, relax nervous system instead of over stimulate it.
• Become more alive, aware, passionate, playful and present
• Fine tune individual inner movement, pulse and rhythm of body undulation
• Greater awareness, balance and clarity with self and others
• Enhance sensuality & sexuality
• Increase healthy self esteem by seeing and being seen for who we are not what we do
• Learn conscious relationship skills, embrace feelings, energy in motion, handle     reactionary projections, conscious listening, healthy responding
• Recognize personas & reclaim authentic self expression

 
Excerpts from E Book, Your Breath is a Portal~ Bringing the Unconscious to Light

by Grace Rosen, M.C. link: http://www.purenergy.net/writings/yourbreathisaportal.html