Whenever I feel I am getting sick, I do two things. I take wellness formula, and I amplify my breathing practice to replenish and recharge. That means that I switch to those breathing techniques that purify the gut and harness energy from the sun and the plants. Regardless of the season, I make sure I go outside and sit close to a tree, or some greenery. It is imperative to do this particular technique in nature.

I roll my tongue on the roof of my mouth to create a tube for the energy to flow. But I still keep the lips a little open not to clench the teeth. Keeping the cavity relaxed and closed seals the energy in, so it doesn’t escape. It creates a smooth tube to channel the life force and to modulate the breath. If my sinuses are a little clogged, I do open the mouth a tiny bit, but I make sure that my tongue still presses against the roof of the mouth.

Next, I focus on my belly navel. This is where I draw the breath from. It is the seat of my power, and I feel it tighten up and sink in. I tuck my tailbone and lift through the sides of the waist. It feels like something is pulling me, and I am resisting the pull. I check in back with my tongue. The tongue presses up, while my navel draws in.

I have now created the springboard for the breath to unleash. But I have one last thing to do. To curl my diaphragm in. I know this sounds counterintuitive. We usually poke the ribs out in an effort to open the solar plexus, but in actuality we are doing two counter actions. As we draw the breath in, the diaphragm presses down, as we release the breath out, the diaphragm domes up like a baby parachute. It is that slight curve that animates and amplifies the breath, so it fills up the belly the ribs and the mid back to reach the midbrain.

This is when the oxygen floods our head and we feel a rush of energy. That’s the first signal of the brain to the cells that they are being nourished and replenished. As the breath reaches the third eye, it pierces the crown and connects to the source of light, only to descend back into the center of the Earth again. We draw from below, to soar high above. The energy runs up and down, but the mechanics of the breath actually spins in an ascending and descending spiral. It is never runs only one way. It always swirls through all the junctions and eases back into stillness.

Pranayama is so invaluable as it teaches us the mechanism of extending, retaining and expanding the breath to draw in vital energy into the cells, and recharge the body throughout. But the effect doesn’t kick in until we get the basics of activating the navel, curling the solar plexus and cupping the third eye to channel the life force.

And yes, when we master this, we become a channel, a membrane of healing light that has the power to charge up from the ether and merge with all that breathes. This is the state of morphic resonance. It allows us to vibrate at the frequency of all living beings, past, present and future.

Replenishing Yoga Breathing: Charge Up

This breathing practice combines classical pranayama and healing mudra to harness energy and energize the cells. The focused breath and controlled movements seals the benefits of the practice and instills a sense of serenity and inner peace.