Full Breath and Energizing The Face

C wrote:

> I have been told to follow the breath, at the nose, no
> matter what and to keep my attention there until the
> 'visual' nimitta arises.

I've been trying to put together a practice that will ease as many people as
possible into breath meditation. However, to start with the 'basics,' I
think first it's important to learn to practice a 'full breath' and dissolve
whatever lateral tensions may be stiffening some part of the breathing
apparatus. The diaphragm muscle, for example, may not be descending fully on
the inhale (as I discovered with myself).

Good information on the 'full breath' is widely available on the Internet,
but I've been using Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks's small book "Breathing
Ecstasy: Finding Sexual Bliss Using The Incredible Power Of Breath" (catchy
title!). It gives basic deep-breathing exercises similar to what Wilhelm
Reich, Alexander Lowen's 'Bioenergetics' and the 'Rebirthing/Holotropic
Breathwork' folks utilize (with some variations). It's always good to be
reminded of the importance of the deep and natural breath, and I use a dozen
of these as warm-ups to the next step: facial-nerve stimulation
see http://www.handle.org/activity/facetap.html

Regarding facial-nerve stimulation, I find that people's facial sensitivity
varies widely. Using a mylar feathery swizzle stick (anything 'tickly' works
well) I run it across their face, forehead, mouth area and below their
nostrils. Sensitive people will shudder and tend to fall into what I call
'The Shoo-Fly Syndrome' - a shudder and an overwhelming urge to tweak the
nostrils. However I've found that wiggling the big toes seems to keep one
from falling 'over the edge,' so to speak.

Others can be much less sensitive, to the point of really not finding the
tickly touch particularly stimulating. However unless the natural touch of
the air to the area below the nostrils is truly blissful, what's going to
make a person want to hold their attention there?

If you don't want to try out a "Thwizzle" stick (mailed to you at my expense
USA/Canada - others negotiable), find something with which you can tickle
your face (around your mouth, nostrils, eyes, forehead) the next time you
sit down to meditate. A stem of tiny flowers or leaves works. Or just use
the 'Shoo-Fly Reflex' tweak, and stroke your nostrils 10-20 times gently.
"Nothing like a good facial tickle to get the body energies flowing!" is
what I've found! And that great SHUDDER!

There are also the Emotional Freedom Technique facial tapping folks -- see http://toendstress.com
who developed a technique via tapping on various facial chi meridians.
EFT tapping is also very good for waking up the
body energy flow and dissolving accumulated stress around the eyes.

I used to think of relaxation as just a sort of "nothing reporting in as
uncomfortable" message, but now I'm beginning to realize that the so-called
'Relaxation Response' is actually a bubbly, pleasurable bliss state. Quite
a difference!