Introduction
Breath was important to the ancient Hawaiian spiritual leaders. They believed that with your breath, you brought in positive energy and expelled negative energy. It was such a large part of their lives that the Hawaiian word for breath, “Ha,” begins the island’s name. Here’s how you can use a powerful breathing technique to empower yourself and get rid of anxiety.
Mana: An Energy Source
Mana is a vital energy source for intention, healing, and spirituality in Hawaiian culture. It is available to you any time you need it and links your three selves—the conscious, unconscious, and spiritual body—in harmony. This connection is the basis through which the Hawaiians understood and explained all human behaviors.
Mana is accessible to you through a technique called Ha Breathing. You can use Ha Breathing to bring energy into your body, relieve stress, relax, or “fuel up” and get ready for an important project.
Practicing Ha Breathing
A good way to begin integrating Ha Breathing into your life is right after you wake up and get out of bed. It will refresh you and give you the energy you need to start your day.
- Stand Comfortably: Place your weight equally on both legs, with arms relaxed at your sides.
- Set Your Intention: Hold the thought, “My three selves and my physical body are ready to receive this morning’s dose of mana.”
- Inhale Deeply: Take a deep breath through your nose, bringing it way down into your stomach. This may take practice as we often favor shallow chest breathing.
- Exhale with “Ha”: With a deep breath in your stomach, lift your head slightly and exhale through your mouth while making the “Ha” sound. The sound should come from the air leaving your body, not from your vocal cords.
- Repeat: Perform this sequence two more times for a total of three Ha breaths.
- Feel the Mana: Stand quietly and feel the mana flowing through your body. If needed, you can repeat three more breaths, but avoid overdoing it to prevent lightheadedness.
The Ha Breathing exercise pulls mana from the world around you, concentrates it in the center of your body, and expels old energy when you exhale.
Everyday Use
Once you’re comfortable with Ha Breathing in the morning, try it in these situations when you feel your anxiety level rising:
- Traffic Stress: You’re stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic and late for work.
- Parental Frustration: Your kids have been screaming non-stop, and you’re just about ready to yell at them.
- Pre-Interview Nerves: You’re waiting to meet the interviewer for a job you really want.
Ha Breathing will calm you down and energize you in a powerful way. This simple tool only takes a minute to use but can change how your day unfolds. It connects you with the natural energy of the Universe, mana, just as it connected the ancient Hawaiian spiritual leaders to the energies surrounding their islands.
Bringing It All Together
Incorporating Ha Breathing into your daily routine can significantly impact your stress levels and overall well-being. By practicing this ancient Hawaiian technique, you can harness the power of mana to calm your mind, energize your body, and connect with your spirit. Share this practice with friends and family, and let’s all breathe in positivity and breathe out negativity together.
