Play of Opposites Practice
inspired by Radiance Sutra #41:
Pour one breath into the other,
Outbreath into the inbreath
Into the outbreath.
Awaken to equanimity,
at peace in the play of opposites.
For this practice, we will be using
our hands to energetically
sense expansion and
condensing of breath.
Come to a comfortable seat.
Or lie down in Constructive Rest Posture.
Begin when ready, no rush.
Take several steady, conscious breaths.
Allow your hands to touch
belly or ribs, anywhere to
feel with more definition
the breath moving.
Notice the play of opposites.
Then bring your palms together
at the sternum or breast bone.
Conscious Inhales and Conscious Exhales.
Notice the pauses at top of the
inhales and bottom of the exhales.
Notice the play of opposites.
On the next inhale, allow your hands
to drift horizontally apart slowly, as if
you were inhaling with your hands,
a sphere of breath expanding
between your palms. The hands pause
when your inhalation pauses.
As the exhale begins, the hands slowly
drift back together, and touch
in the pause at the end of the exhale.
Repeat for several breaths.
Notice the play of opposites:
Inbreath and expanding hands and ribs,
Outbreath and condensing hands, ribs.
Notice all the center to periphery energy expansions,
and the periphery to center energy returnings.
After doing this several times moving the hands vertically, try the practice moving the hands vertically.
Does this change how the energy feels
as a sensation of breath and movement?
Rest in the play of opposites.
After this practice, you could:
Take a Savasana
Journal about the experience
Move into an Asana Practice
End the Practice Session and
Live your Yoga.
