I’m bestselling indie writer Teague de La Plaine. This is my weekly newsletter, where I talk about writing and self-publishing in addition to my own life. I keep the newsletter free, because I prefer you spend your money on my books.
Decades ago, I learned a kind of meditation while studying a martial art that has been helpful for me all the years since. The meditation has grown and changed over time as it has soaked into various aspects of my ever-changing life. I believe it is at a point now that I can share it with you, in hopes that you too will find it useful. This meditation practice, which I call “inner fire,” is a great way to start every day. I have broken the practice into three parts. The first part is a simple breathing exercise.
Take a seat and get comfortable. Straighten your back by pulling your shoulders back and sticking your chest out. Don’t slump. Lift your chin so that your eyes look straight ahead. Rest your open hands in your lap.
Shift around a little, take your time, and get into the position that is most comfortable for you. If you are not comfortable, you will not get the greatest benefit from this exercise.
The next step is to breathe. It sounds simple, but breathing is something that humans start off doing very well (as babies) and then begin doing very poorly (as grownups). As an adult, we tend to develop efficiencies in both our physical and mental processes. Because we become less active as we grow older, our breathing shifts from a deep belly breath to a shallow chest breath. The key to this meditation is to re-learn this deep belly breathing.
Take a breath through your nose. As you inhale, let your belly expand. Imagine the air going all the way to the bottom of your lungs, pushing your stomach out in order to make room for the air. Feel your chest and abdomen expand until there is absolutely no more room. Then, open your mouth slightly and let the air tumble out naturally, like a deflating balloon. Make sure you keep your shoulders up and back and your chin and eyes level. Don't slump your back and lean forward.
A great method to practice breathing is to count your breaths. Each time you inhale through your nose and then exhale through your mouth, count that as one breath. Do this for three breaths. Then do that three times, like this:
Inhale, exhale: One.
Inhale, exhale: Two.
Inhale, exhale: Three.
One.
Inhale, exhale: One.
Inhale, exhale: Two.
Inhale, exhale: Three.
Two.
Inhale, exhale: One.
Inhale, exhale: Two.
Inhale, exhale: Three.
Three.
Now you have completed the threefold breaths. It shouldn't take you very long and it's something you can do every day. Take this practice with you and pull it out when you need to relax and recenter.
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Yes, "inner fire" is a great way to describe that.