Valve breathing
In this exercise, I slowly push air through my mouth, between my teeth, while making a hissing sound. The valve release exercise is meant to improve my ability to release unwanted thoughts and tension.
How I exercise ‘valve breathing’:
Directives:
- I sit comfortably with a straight back, relax my tongue and jaw, and close my eyes.
- Reset my breathing if needed.
- Breathe, as in 3-part breathing, with nose inhales and mouth exhales.
- Inhale fully in 3 parts.
- Exhale deeply in 3 parts, pucker my lips while extending them out, leaving an opening to release the air through the gaps between my teeth.
- Hold my breath until I gently reach the point of ‘air hunger start.’
- Repeat for a few rounds.
The sound resembles the hissing sound produced during a gas leak or when depressing the valve stem of a car wheel.
I exhale monotonously, creating airflow resistance by limiting the air passage between my teeth. During this process, my abdominal muscles play a significant role in driving the last part of the exhale. The breath-hold serves as an indicator. If I exhale slowly enough and hold my breath, I should rapidly reach ‘air hunger start.’