Sounding Out Breath
A big part of the healing power of singing and chanting is that they work much like the hushing breath to regulate our breathing. When we sing, whatever the words of the song, we tend to "sound the breath out" until it's time to inhale. The more often we sing, the better our breathing.
Chanting adds to this the inherent power of certain sounds. Sounding the breath out with ooooommmm has long been practiced to deepen meditative states. And aaaahhhh, the sound that people often make when feeling pleasure or satisfaction, can be used to to intentionally generate healing energy in the body.
Begin with several long, slow hushing breaths
.........sssssssssshhhhhhhhhh.......
Now, continuing with a long slow inhale
Let the air out through the mouth with a
Long sustained sound of aaaaaahhhhhh . . .
Breathe all the way out, until it's time to inhale
Then breathe in through the nose,
A long slow inhale
And sound the breath all the way out
With a long sustained sound of aaaaaahhhhhh . . .
Pause for a few moments,
Noticing any feelings or sensations.
Now continue for several more breaths,
Breathing in through the nose,
Filling yourself with energy, and sound out the breath
With a long, gentle aaaaaahhhhhh . . .
As your eyes close for a few more breaths . . .
Practice 3 times a day.
With practice, this process —
I experience stress, I breathe into it,
And then I release it with a long, slow exhale —
Will become your automatic response
To stressful or difficult situations as they happen.
When you notice that you are spontaneously
Sounding Out the breath during your day
You are ready to move on to the next breath.