Dragon Breath

BEFORE	AFTER

Dragon breath is the name that I give to the breathing exercise that Donna Eden calls the ‘Darth Vader Breath.’  I began calling it ‘Dragon Breath’ after working with a client who had experienced sexual abuse; the concept of ‘Darth Vader’, with it’s dark, out-of-balance masculinity, was a frightening one to her and although the exercise was exactly what I thought would help her, I knew that unless she could find a way to identify with the name, she wouldn’t be able to connect with the breath and use it to help her heal. As she shuddered, ‘Yuk, Darth Vader.’ My brain scanned to find something more acceptable yet appropriate for the sound that the breath makes. ‘Dragon Breath’ I corrected. She relaxed, ‘Dragon Breath?’ she asked curiously, ‘ How do I do it?’. It highlights so greatly the power of the words that we use in our practice, and the essential need of the client to be able to identify with the words or the name of an exercise. I often find myself changing names of exercises or asking the client what words they feel most describes or epitomises the exercise that I am recommending for homework. And some of the names are fantastic. It helps the individual ‘own’ the exercise, increasing the probability of them working with it, and also of it working with them.

I have a First Nations teacher who tells me, ‘The foundational basis for any relationship is an exchange of story.  Without story there is no relationship’. So, in working with clients to name their own exercises they are creating a relationship with that exercise that is far deeper and more effective than when I (or Donna) name it for them. They are helping create the story that will change their health. Of course, I will always tell them what Donna has named it in her books so that they can look it up, but they continue to call it, think it, know it and do it as the name that they identify with. A few syllables that generate self empowerment and a willingness to take responsibility for their own health.

So the power of words to embody a relationship is what I wanted to blog about, but as I mentioned the Dragon Breath, I thought I should share with you what it is; known in Yoga as the Ujjayi Pranayama, it involves deeply inhaling and exhaling while constricting the throat so that you make a noise that resembles the raspy noise Darth Vader makes through his breathing apparatus. Or, for those of you who have heard it (!) the sound that a Dragon makes when it needs to increase it’s power. The Dragon breath is amazing for people who need to build greater resilience in their aura. It really breathes the aura strong from the inside out. I have worked with clients (and loved ones) who do the Celtic weave and certainly benefit from it, but if it is not quite enough for their bio-field (aura) to be strong and resilient... enter the Dragon!

with love, prune

 

Comments

[Danceofenergy]

Excellent advice, Prune! I teach Circle Dance and recently had the revelation that connecting a story with a dance helps students remember the steps. I'm also a budding EEM practitioner, and look forward to building more creativity into my practice and inviting clients to do the same. Mary HL

[Andie 97]

Thanks for the reminder about this helping the aura. I don't always have enough time to do the celtic weave, and with aura issues, this would help tremendously.

[Jyoti Rawlinson]

I always found it hard to connect with the name Darth Vader Breath, having never seen the Star Wars movies (am I the only one?). I really like "Dragon Breath". Empowering and completely visceral.