Lion's Breath for Emotional Release
Two 15-minute practice recordings to support emotional expression
Hello All Parts Community!
The theme for this month is all about deepening our practice in a simple and accessible way. This month, we’re stripping away the fancy mantras and movements to really focus on deepening our relationship with more “basic” pranayama. I want to draw particular attention to how this change in focus feels in the body, as well as the shifts we can experience from anchoring into a simpler practice. Each class across the month will explore different pranic breathing practices.
Our final week will focus on Lion’s Breath, with classes on Monday, the 26th and Wednesday, the 28th of August, from 8~8:15 a.m. CST. The Zoom link to join is below. These classes are designed to be short and accessible so they can easily be implemented into your daily routine. Ideally, you’ll practice this class each day on your own through the week following our live class.
What you’ll need for this practice:
Find a seat that you'll be comfortable sitting in for the whole practice. You can also use bolsters or pillows to prop up the hips if you’d like to lie down.
Make sure to wear loose clothing that doesn't constrict your diaphragm (tight leggings not recommended!).
I’ll invite you to have your camera turned on so that we can hold the container together. I know this might feel uncomfortable for some, and if you absolutely must keep your camera off, I totally understand. However, I find that having cameras on helps to maintain a sense of community, helps to limit distractions, and helps me to guide and cue based on visual feedback.
This class helps to support emotional release through a pranayama technique known as ‘Lion’s Breath’.
Pranayama breath work is a core element of yoga that involves controlled breathing. The benefits of pranayama breath work are far-reaching: improved lung function, enhanced respiratory efficiency, lower cortisol levels, reduced stress, increased mental clarity by raising oxygen levels to the brain, improved sleep quality, and better regulation of breath and emotions.
Our breath practice this week is known as Lion’s Breath, or Simhasana Pranayama. Lion’s Breath helps to relieve tension in the face, jaw, and throat through an open-mouthed, exaggerated exhalation. This technique is highly supportive for emotional release and reducing stress and anxiety.
Lion’s Breath helps to release unwanted emotions, particularly those connected to a victimhood mentality and helplessness. Ultimately, it helps connect us with our innate strength, power, and confidence. It aids in self-expression by stimulating the throat and vocal cords. This technique also improves circulation in the face, activates the diaphragm, and supports deeper focus and mental clarity.
On an energetic level, Lion’s Breath is connected to our 5th chakra, the throat, which helps us speak our truth from our authentic voice.
I like to use this breath when I feel unable to express my emotions fully out of fear that I’ll come across as too angry—a socialized story I’ve inherited from being a woman and not wanting to “rock the boat.” Like many of us, when I feel powerless in situations of injustice or in sticky situations with others where I feel like I have to hold my tongue or not speak my truth, I practice Lion’s Breath. It helps relieve the pressure that builds up in the throat when we aren’t able to speak our truth.
See you on the mat,
Eliza