Search all Practices
Breath:Pause
Breath:Pausevisarga
Breath:Pause
7-day immersionStart at the beginningFollow the correct direction through Breath: Pause and the next practices instead of sampling the text at random.
Centering
Yukti #1Verses 24–27
Embodied I
Related Deep Dives
Verses 22-27 (Part I)The First Practice
Verses 22–27 (Part II)Instructions for Yukti #1
Verse 24ūrdhve prāṇo hy adho jīvo visargātmā paroccaret  utpatti-dvitaya-sthāne bharaṇād bharitā sthitiḥ The Supreme Goddess constantly articulates as the life-giving flow of breath: prāṇa (exhale) rising up, and jīva (inhale)—the movement into embodiment—descending. By pausing at the two places where the flows of breath arise, and filling those points [with silent awareness], one abides in the state of inner fullness.
Verse 25maruto ’ntar bahir vāpi viyad-yugmānivartanāt  bhairavyā bhairavasyetthaṃ bhairavi vyajyate vapuḥ O Bhairavī! By not turning back [too soon] from the pair of spaces, inner and outer, where the breath pauses, the form of Bhairava is manifested thus through Bhairavī (as in: the still space of awareness underlying the movement of prāṇa is revealed).
Verse 26na vrajen na viśec chaktir marud-rūpā vikāsite  nirvikalpatayā madhye tayā bhairava-rūpatā When the prāṇa-śakti does not move out nor enters in, the Center [suddenly] expands and thoughts melt away. By virtue of that, one is endowed with the Bhairava-state.
Verse 27kumbhitā recitā vāpi pūritā vā yadā bhavet  tad-ante śānta-nāmāsau śaktyā śāntaḥ prakāśate When that [breath-power] called ‘quiescent’ is retained after inhale or even after exhale, at the end of that [moment of stillness], the Tranquil One manifests through that power.
Simplified Steps
Relax the jaw totally
Inhale down to the base of the heart, then pause briefly and abide in fullness
Exhale up to above the crown of the head, then pause briefly and abide in surrender
Repeat, breathing along the central axis called the central channel
After a while, let go of the sense that you are doing the practice and simply let it happen