Hands stretch breathing
I. Starting position
- Stand erect with feet together (heels together and toes 4 to 6 inches apart) hands relaxed by the side of the body.
- Gently bring your hands in front of the chest. Interlock the fingers and place the palms on the chest.
- Relax your shoulders.
- Close your eyes.
II. Practice
Stage 1 (Horizontal)
- While breathing in, stretch the arms straight out in front of your body keeping your fingers interlocked. Ensure that the arms are at shoulder level.
- At the same time twist the hands so that the palms face outwards.
- Fully stretch the arms, but do not strain.
- Now, while exhaling reverse the process and bring the palms back on to the chest.
- Relax your shoulders again.
- This is one round. Repeat five times.
Stage 2 (At 135o )
- Repeat the same movements now stretching the arms above the forehead at an angle of 135o .
- Repeat five times.
Stage3 (Vertical)
- Repeat the same movements, this time stretching the arms vertically above the head.
- While moving up and down the palms may gently touch the nose tip.
- Repeat five times.
NOTE:
- Relax the shoulders at the beginning and end of each cycle.
- Maintain perfect awareness of the breathing.
- Exhalation (breathing out) should be longer than the inhalation (breathing in).
- If required, it can be practised sitting on a chair too.
- Properly synchronize the breathing with hand movements.