Balloon/Belly Breath
While sitting in a mindful body, place your hands on your belly. Imagine there is a balloon inside of your tummy. When you inhale, breathe all the way down into your belly, filling your balloon up with air. When you exhale, deflate your belly (balloon) by letting all of the air out of your belly to escape out through your nose. Repeat 3-5 times. Students watch teacher with hoberman sphere during this exercise. Benefits of this breath include increased energy, awareness/clearer thinking, and calm.
Woodchopper Breath-
Slowly breathe in through your nose, lifting your arms straight overhead like you are holding an axe. Long breath out with a loud "ha" sound as bend your knees, fold forward and drop your hands to the ground.
Take 5 Finger Tracing
1. Stretch your hand out like a star.
2. Get your pointer finger ready to trace your fingers up and down.
3. Slide up each finger slowly then slide down the other side.
4. Breathe in through your nose then out through your mouth.
5. Put it together and breathe in as you slide up and breathe out as you slide down. Notice how you feel at the end of finger tracing.
4-7-8 Breathing
Begin in a mindful body. Breath in through your nose for 4 seconds. Hold your breath for 7 seconds. Exhale your breath for 8 seconds. This is a calming breath.
Count to Five
Holding up one hand, lift one finger at a time counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 as you inhale. Pause. Exhale and count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 as you pull one finger at a time back in. Repeat 2-3 times. This breath is calming and relaxing.
Bunny Breath
Inhale through the nose in 3 to 4 quick sniffs and then exhale out through the mouth in one long sigh/breath. Repeat 4 to 5 times. For fun with students, put up your "bunny paws in front of your body" and "grab a carrot for a little snack". Bunny breath helps to boost energy and promote clear thinking.
Conductor Breath
Begin in Standing Mountain with your feet slightly wider than hip distance apart. Inhale through your nose slightly while bringing your arms up in front of you. Inhale a little more while swinging your arms out to your sides. Now, inhale all the way while you're swinging your arms all the way up over your head. Forcefully exhale, HA! while letting your arms and torso fall forward between your bent legs. Repeat 3-4 times.
Snake Breath
Inhale slowly and deeply, filling up the belly. Breathe out very slowly, making a "Hissssss" sound for as long as possible. Repeat 3-6 times. Snake breath reduces tension, helps to focus and bring a state of calm.
Ocean Breath
Begin in sitting or standing mountain. Take a deep breath in through your nose. Breath out and whisper out the sound "hhhh" through your mouth just like you are fogging up a mirror or using a Darth Vader voice. The second time around inhale through the nose. When you exhale this time, try to keep your mouth closed as you make the "hhhh" sound. Can you hear the sound of the ocean waves? On the third time, try covering your ears with your hands. Take a deep breath in and exhale out listening to the sound of the ocean. Repeat 3-4 times. This is a calming and peaceful breath.
Hot Chocolate Breath
Put your hands together like you are holding a cup of hot chocolate. Take a deep breath in and smell the cocoa and exhale blow on it. Repeat 3-4 times.
Flying Bird Breath
This breath can be done standing or sitting in a mindful body. Breathe in slowly while lifting your arms out to the sides reaching up with palms facing up. Continue to reach the arms overhead to touch the palms together. Begin to exhale as you lower the arms down to the sides with palms turned down. Repeat this several times with your arms and breath syncing together. The movement of the arms will remind you of a beautiful bird with large open wings. This is a calming and focusing breath.
Lion's Breath
Come into a seated position in a mindful body. Picture yourself as a strong and fierce lion. Take a deep inhale through the nose. Exhale out through your mouth while sticking out your tongue towards your chin. This is a cleansing breath that is great for releasing excess energy or emotions.
Heart to Belly Breath
Place one hand over your heart and one hand over your belly. Slowly inhale and then slowly exhale noticing our heart beat. Repeat 3-4 times.
Bee Breath
Students block ears with fingers, take an inhale and on exhale hum out as long as possible "Hmmmmmmmmmmmm." Bee breath with blocked ears helps to create an inward focus, helping to ground and center students.
Volcano Breath
Start in Mountain Pose. Inhale hands rise above your head, exhale (volcano erupts) and hands spread wide and fall to sides. Repeat.
Flower Breath
Stop and smell the flowers! Close your eyes and picture your favorite flower in your mind-its color, the shape and the smell. Breathe in very slowly and deeply to smell the fragrance of your flower. Exhale very slowly. Repeat 3-6 times. This breath is a slow and deep breath that is calming, nurturing, and cleansing.
Finger Breath
Align finger tips of both hands touching; Inhale fingers expand; Exhale fingers contract close together; Eyes watching hands, then eyes closed. (calming breath)
Winter's Breath
Take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale like you are fogging up a mirror.