Despite all that I have tried I can not free my breath

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#41

Feeling flat and empty.

Does anybody have any advice or ideas to share? I don’t even feel that bad or depressed anymore, just empty. I can sense there’s an underlying current of energy going through my body but somehow it misses my chest. I should add that the very few, spontaneous times I do feel more vibrantly, aromas seem more intoxocating and everything seems to spark long lost memories from my childhood. But I don’t know why or how these moments happen to me.

In the past yoga sessions have been effective on and off. Sometimes I do feel more sensitive but others it feels as if there is a solid, painful, impenetretable piece of glass in my chest and throat that encapsules everything. Any ideas?

#42

Many people have kindly added their ‘2 cents’ to your post, and it seems for good reason - many of us can identify with what you are going through. Being of mediterranean descent myself, I can certainly understand the sort of emotional conflicts you describe. Maybe it’s the food, but we can be very passionate about life. You mentioned you were passionate as a teenager, but somehow lost that. From what I read in your posts, the passion is still there but internalized. The conflict continues buried inside your mind creating the ‘fight or flight’ symtoms of shallow breath and anxiety. To top it off, you have made the decision to resolve the conflict without the help of others.

One of my favourite pop-culture authors on human behaviour is Edward De Bono who wrote a book in the 1990’s called ‘The Happiness Purpose’. In it he explains that we are all composed of exo and endo systems, and it’s the balancing of these 2 that determines our ‘happiness factor’. From your posts it seems that you are stuck in an endo-system that overpowers your exo-system. In other words, you don’t have enough outside of yourself to create balance and relieve conflict. Several of repondents alluded to finding voluteer work etc.

Yoga is but one of the tools you can use to keep you focused in your mind and body as you look at resolving your conflict.

Good luck, and I hope you find some inner peace.

#43

[QUOTE=Mato;24453]Feeling flat and empty.

Does anybody have any advice or ideas to share? I don’t even feel that bad or depressed anymore, just empty. I can sense there’s an underlying current of energy going through my body but somehow it misses my chest. I should add that the very few, spontaneous times I do feel more vibrantly, aromas seem more intoxocating and everything seems to spark long lost memories from my childhood. But I don’t know why or how these moments happen to me.

In the past yoga sessions have been effective on and off. Sometimes I do feel more sensitive but others it feels as if there is a solid, painful, impenetretable piece of glass in my chest and throat that encapsules everything. Any ideas?[/QUOTE]
from my experience.
all of my previous experiences have passed.
many experiences that I thought would never end, did, even emptiness.
spend time with friends and families
if emptiness arises, it is ok, if we attach to it,ok, however that seems to keep it around longer. during one experience energy seemed to avoid that location for you, ok
my best to you
brother Neil

#44

So, Mato, here’s a possibility that hasn’t been offered yet. It’s a bit close to home; feel free to not post back about it, even if it works.
Something inside you needs to cry, and what you are experiencing (tightness, painful glass in chest and throat) is what you are doing to keep from crying.
Find somewhere safe and calm, and discover if this is what is going on.
Remember, feelings like this – it’s not their job to be rational. There doesn’t need to be a reason, there especially does not need to be a reason you accept. You just need to survive them and let them pass when they are done.
A thorough sob-fest might free your breath, and put you in a place where you can figure out how to keep from needing one again in the near future.

Good luck, friend.

#45

Mato, when you say you have tried everything have you been to a physician? Specifically have you spoken to him/her about feeling empty?

Do you feel empty all the time? Is there a time or is there something you do when you don’t feel empty?

Is there something that brings you joy? or peace?

#46

maybe “you” cannot free the breath, maybe God can

#47

If you want that your breathe should not break while doing yoga,you should try to concentrate on the things which you are doing.Every morning try to make some spiritual sounds like OM or like Honey bee for 1 minute without breaking it.Try it 5 time daily whenever you are free.It will help you further.

#48

I am the same way Dmitri, if it makes you feel any better!

#49

Hello everyone, first post here. I am Dimitri from Greece, 25, graphic designer.

Like the thread title hints, I have this problem. I am quite anxiety and depression prone and for about 5 years now I have dedicated a massive amount of energy and time trying to improve the situation while avoiding self-destruction as best as I could. I have tried everything. Macrobiotics, meditation, medication, jogging, breathing, postures, I have tried everything I could think of to inumerable variations.

#50

so, you cannot free the breath, ever? labels are funny sometimes. lets say someone smokes cigarettes, then they call themselves a smoker, and maybe attach to that label. However, most people spend much more time not smoking. So the majority of the time they are non smokers. so is it more accurate to say, I smoke sometimes? is it more accurate to say, sometimes I do not free the breath, sometimes I do.
my best to you
with love
brother Neil

#51

do you do actual yoga asana?

take up sungazing, and don’t reply (others) unless you know what it is, because people are prejudiced by misinformation, even yogis!
http://solarhealing.com/
this method is safest because it is gradual but some feel it is too gradual
when you follow the instructions clearly and watch the sunrise you will have joy, because the sun IS JOY and it fills the solar plexus, killing anything evil in the mind,
the last 10 minutes of sunset are really nice to watch, but you have to be very gradual because if your eyes are good, you can sungaze easy, but if they aren’t, you have to be very kind to them until they get stronger.

then do
http://www.sahej.com/Sodarshan.html

Sodarshan chakra kriya, and yoga asana,
all motivation is a problem of the solar plexus, also, get a citrine crystal.
and learn kriya yoga!
http://www.kriyayoga.com/kriya_yoga/kriya_yoga.html

meditate and breathe less, get your body more active, just based on your first post it sounds like you want enlightenment but are just breathing and sitting, which can be very passive passive passive things, unless the pranayam is fiery and kundalini oriented.

also chant any mantra for Rama,
the hare krishna maha mantra is good,
and then get into your mind and see, :
WHAT DO I WANT ?

if you don’t have desires think of something you’d like your life to be like, and work on positive thought. you need a divine energy shift and that’s why mantra is very important here, embrace Krishna :smiley: