DESCRIPTION OF THE 75-BREATH PRACTICE

INTRODUCTION

The 75-breath practice is a systematic relaxation technique in the tradition of the Himalayan masters. Although this practice seems very simple, it is actually quite advanced. Access to the benefits of this practice depends on how effortlessly you can breathe and your sensitivity to prana (energy).  However, both will improve over time simply by engaging with this technique. 

While this practice is traditionally done lying on the floor, we’ve adapted a guided version that is compatible with the float tank. The combination of this systematic technique with the inevitable physical relaxation provided by the float environment create the potential for an incredibly rich experience of inner awareness.

BENEFITS OF THE PRACTICE

  • Provides complete rest to the body and nervous system, and heals pain caused by routine wear and tear to the body, as well as chronic issues. 

  • Gives you a real experience of your personal inner space, and introduces your mind to a flow of awareness in that space. 

  • Cultivates conscious awareness of prana (energy).

  • Awakens willpower and inner strength.

HOW TO PRACTICE

The 75-breath is a series of 75 sweeping breaths from point to point through your body. Throughout the entire practice, there should be a seamless flow of breath, with no pause between the inhalation and the exhalation, or between the exhalation and the inhalation.

Indeed, this is a perfect opportunity to cultivate the 5 qualities of healthy breathing:

  • Deep

  • Smooth

  • Even

  • Continuous

  • Quiet

As you move between points in the body, an upward-flowing awareness accompanies each inhalation, and a downward-flowing awareness accompanies each exhalation. As soon as the inhalation is complete, you reach the upward destination point, the crown of the head. Immediately, you begin exhaling to reach the next downward destination point.

At first, it is common to try visualizing as you move through the body, but eventually, the idea is to simply feel your awareness flow from point to point, with the mind at rest.

Even though the physical distance between points becomes shorter and shorter, the duration of your breaths remains constant, and the experience becomes one of increased depth as the practice progresses.

The instructions are very simple. During the practice, you will:

  1. Begin by bringing your awareness to your toes.

  2. Inhale from the toes to the crown, and exhale from the crown back to the toes 10 times.

  3. Inhale from the ankles to the crown, and exhale from the crown to the ankles 10 times.

  4. Inhale from each of the following points to the crown and exhale back again 5 times:

    1. Knees

    2. Perineum (at the center of the pelvic floor)

    3. Navel

    4. Heart

    5. Throat

    6. Center of the forehead – On the last exhalation, your awareness travels from the crown to the opening of the nostrils.

  5. Inhale from the opening of the nostrils to the center of the forehead, and exhale from the center of the forehead to the opening of the nostrils 25 times. 

  6. Once complete, you’ll be free to experience the blissful state of awareness in silence and stillness. We’ll guide you back into your physical body just before your float session ends.

ADDITIONAL PRACTICING TIPS

  1. It is very important to allow your breath to flow naturally, and to use the external instruction as a reference point for the next breath. Please make sure not to shorten or lengthen your breath artificially. Ideally, once you learn this practice, you should do it in a self-guided manner instead of using the recording. This ensures that the duration of each breath is not influenced by the duration indicated by the external voice leading the practice. The duration of the instructions will never match the practitioners natural duration of breath. This imbalance takes away from the effortlessness of the practice, and, if too pronounced, the cumulative effect of this imbalance over the course of the practice will take away from the benefit. 

  2. Maintain focus on the breath, but gradually allow your mind to attune to the energetic flow of awareness. Be patient. Allow the experience to emerge naturally. 

  3. Release any distraction caused by mentally counting the breaths. Instead, use the power of intention to help awaken your latent retentive power. 

  4. Notice how your breath gradually slows and deepens (while growing more subtle) over the course of the practice.

  5. If you fall asleep, that’s okay! Discontinue the practice when you wake up. If you become distracted and lose your awareness briefly, continue the practice from where you were.