Valve breathing
In this exercise, I slowly push air through my mouth, between my teeth, while making a hissing sound. The exercise is meant to improve my ability to release unwanted thoughts and tensions.
The way I exercise ‘valve’ breathing
- Breathing: nose inhale, mouth exhale.
- Position: I sit comfortably with a straight back, relax my tongue and jaw, and close my eyes.
- Reset my breathing.
- Inhale fully in 3 parts.
- Exhale deeply in 3 parts, pucker my mouth while extending my lips out, leaving an opening so that I release the air through the gaps between my teeth.
- Hold my breath until ‘air hunger start.’
- Repeat for a few rounds.
Remarks
The sound generated resembles the sound of a gas leak or when depressing the valve stem of a car wheel.
I exhale monotonously, creating airflow resistance by limiting air passage between my teeth. My abdominal muscles drive the last part of the exhale.
The breath hold allows indication. If I exhale slowly enough, once holding my breath, I should rapidly reach ‘air hunger start.’