YOGA WITH CATHERINE
  • Restorative Classes
  • EMPOWER Mentoring
  • Practice On Demand
  • Retreats + Events
  • Work with me
  • Blog
  • Contact
Yoga with Catherine videos
4th November 2019

Your Autumn Wellness Cleanse

Catherine Gallagher YOGA

THE ECHO EXHALATION

I learned this Pranayama (breath observation) by reading B.K.S Iyengar’s Light on Life

The Echo Exhalation is simple:

  1. Steady inhale through the nose
  2. exhale slowly and fully through the nose
  3. Hold the breath
  4. Exhale again through the nose
  5. Concentrate and continue for 3-5 minutes

This fourth step is key! As Iyengar says “There is always this slight residue left in the lungs. In that residue is to be found the sludge of toxic memory and ego.”

The lungs hold onto stagnant, stale energy. Think about it like this. If a situation gets intense and heavy have you noticed how you have a deeper exhale? It’s because it’s all down there… buried way down deep in the lungs – fear, frustration, jealousy, rage, bitterness, anger, resentment and grief. That heaviness is literally the “sludge” and “toxins” of our emotions. We’d all like to release this residue as our emotions are all energy. Energy moves through movement so the way to move the lungs is through the breath.

It’s also a perfect breath practice for this time of year as Autumn is all about letting go. Like the leaves shed their leaves and don’t hold onto them, we can let go of some of our unhealthy attachments and habits no longer allowing them to stagnate and fester. Let’s shed those layers, release the old and dead to make space for the new and fresh.

STREAM OF CONSCIOUS JOURNALLING

Following the video, in a calm relaxed state, take your journal or some paper, perhaps get cosy with tea and light a candle and consider these Autumn journal prompts.

Take as long or as little as you like. You might like to try Stream of Consciousness journaling. Set a timer for 3 minutes per question and write every thought that enters your head around that question. Your writing might say “I am thinking, I don’t know what to say, this is stupid, I feel confused” etc. etc. Don’t let your pen stop moving until the timer goes. Release it all out and let it go.

  1. What do you long for?
  2. What’s in the way?
  3. What’s old and lingering in your body and/or mind?
  4. What new beginnings, goals, adventures, projects are you ready to get started?
  5. How can you make space to allow the new to enter?

Journaling is a win-win! It’s an incredible stress management tool and particularly good if like me you struggle with anxiety. When the stress hormone is lowered in the body our blood pressure goes down and our immune system is boosted. It’s a good healthy habit for managing your mental health, unwinding and processing the difficulties and challenges life throws at us. It’s another method, like yoga, that leaves us feeling better at the end than when we began the practice.

Simple self-care can go a long way for your mental health and overall wellbeing. I wish you all the best with these practices and please know:

 

With love and light

Catherine x

What’s for brunch this Autumn Harvest? This FREE delicious recipe is! FREE Autumn Wellness cleanse (in 1.5 minutes!)

Related Posts

Copy of Copy of Copy of Untitled (4)

YOGA

R&R is your birth right | Discount on Replays

Ocean soul sisters

YOGA

Fully immersed in The Flow State

Copy of empower 1_1

Podcasts, YOGA

Mental Health as a Yoga Teacher

Recent Posts

  • ✔ LAST CHANCE to sign up for SPRING REVIVAL VINYASA! 💫
  • ◉ LIVE right now! 💫
  • ✔ Why understanding how to self-regulate is vital 💫
  • Could you be even 1% more comfortable right now? 💫
  • Need some support like I do? 🎉➡️🙏📝 💫

Recent Comments

  • April Update | Alternative Healing: My favourite Moroccan Remedies - YOGA WITH CATHERINE on Moroccan Remedies: Alternative Healing
  • March Update | *New* FREE Yoga Nidra Meditation - YOGA WITH CATHERINE on Yoga Nidra: A desert dream
  • January Update | New Moon Eclipse Ritual + New Year Offering! - Yoga with Catherine on Yoga with Catherine Retreat FAQs
  • January Update | New Moon Eclipse Ritual + New Year Offering! - Yoga with Catherine on New Moon Eclipse Ritual
  • November Update | FREE playlist and 2019 retreat dates announced! - Yoga with Catherine on Morocco DREAM retreat playlist

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016

Categories

  • FOOD
  • Free stuff
  • Podcasts
  • Uncategorised
  • YOGA
  • Online Shop
  • T&Cs
  • Privacy policy
© Copyright 2020 Catherine Gallagher. All rights reserved.
Powered by WordPress • Themify WordPress Themes
YogaWithCatherine uses cookies
We use cookies on our website. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of all cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.