Forrest's Library

How Much Should I Fill the Lungs? - Resonant Breathing

Summary

, 19 min

How much to fill and empty the lungs in resonant breathing: comfort rules, shoulders stay down, and a contracting stomach is fine as the breath progresses toward the Tranquil Breath. Meditation is then reduced to two essentials — an easy, comfortable parasympathetic state and right-brain expansion through Hakalau — plus a reminder not to take life too seriously.

In this video

Teaches
HRV ResonanceParasympathetic nervous systemExpansion
Discusses
Sympathetic nervous systemDorsal Vagal ComplexStruggle in meditationDiaphragmatic breathingSitting Very Still (SVS)Tranquil BreathHakalauLeft and right brainDream nature of lifeVentral Vagal Complex

Key moments

00:00How much to fill and empty the lungs in resonant breathing01:01The overriding rule: everything easy and comfortable02:21Don't raise the shoulders on the inbreath03:27Breathing in meditation is a progression05:06How far to breathe out: the stomach may contract06:17Limbs, head and chest stay still; the gut can move07:21Find a comfortable rate under seven breaths per minute08:42Watch a sleeper to see the tranquil breath disappear09:45The two things meditation needs: parasympathetic and expansion10:38Hakalau: look at one dot and open the peripheral vision11:25Expanding in meditation, with or without the spiritual light12:34Is it easy, comfortable and fun?12:59Ashram story: belly laughing at Dumb and Dumber14:30It's all hallucination through the temporal lobe15:43Joy in the ventral vagal and the Cheshire Cat grin16:42It's okay to be sympathetic now and then17:13The essential ingredients are already inside you