Kumbhaka
the pause between
Written by Desmond Olubunmi · Founder of Sunya
The conscious, deliberate pause — where the breath stops and the system opens, settles, and falls quiet.
Consciously holding the breath quiets the overthinking mind — and the two holds do different things. Holding after the in-breath builds an inner pressure that pushes the energy pathways open, drawing in and building the life force. Holding after the out-breath builds stillness — opening into a deep, silent, empty quiet, and stilling the chatter of the mind.
What matters is that the holding is conscious and willed — the practice is in the deliberate pause, not the shallow breath-catching of an anxious body.
Inhale for 4 counts.
Hold the breath in for 4 counts.
Exhale for 4 counts.
Hold the breath out for 4 counts. — That is one round.
Once this is easy, lengthen the holds gradually (for example: inhale 4, hold 8, exhale 8, hold 4) — slowly, and never to strain.
Occasional writing on the levers, the practices, and how to actually work with them.
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