In the 1970’s, Bill Cosby did a routine called “Natural Childbirth,” in which he spoofed Lamaze breathing as a rapid, rhythmic whistling sound. I have been to Kundalini yoga classes that sound just like that.
In Kundalini yoga, many of the exercises consist of repeated motions rather than static postures. Usually, the breath is coordinated with these motions. Inhale left, exhale right; inhale up, exhale down. Quietly. During one class, my partner was doing a vigorous exercise without breathing audibly. As it sounded like several people in the back of the room were in labor, she wondered whether she was doing it correctly. When she looked over and saw that I was not doing Lamaze, she was reassured that what she was doing was alright.
Breathing intentionally is an element that is woven throughout Kundalini yoga and meditation. Often we are told to suspend the breath. That means to inhale, then stop inhaling. It doesn’t mean to hold the breath, which involves closing the glottis forcefully. Suspending the breath means leaving the breathing passages open and stopping the motion of breathing for a few moments. Then you simply resume breathing. Quietly. When the teacher says “exhale,” the audible release of glottises and the whooshing sound that follows gives away those classmates who don’t quite get this concept.
“Inhale, and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God. Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God.” –Tirumalai Krishnamacharya
Sometimes it is pleasing to hear our fellow yogis breathing. A contented sigh as the body surrenders to savasana. The lengthening breath of one finding her way deeper into a posture. If someone’s breathing sounds a little “personal,” perhaps it should be treated as nonchalantly as a forward fold fart, except that it is much more pleasant. There are lots of things that we need to let go of during our practice. We must cultivate a safe space for ourselves and our fellow yogis to do so.
During one class, we were doing a challenging exercise, and there was a great sense of satisfaction in holding out for the full three minutes. When it was time to release into child’s pose, my partner let out a guttural moan, which seemed to begin at the lowest regions of her torso and culminate in a complete physical and emotional release. Let’s just say that she sounded quite satisfied. Afterwards, I said to her, “You know, I usually don’t think about you quite that way.” I should point out that it is completely inappropriate to comment on these things to anyone whom you are not going home with after class. Even so, I seem to remember getting pushed.
“Be aware of your breathing. Notice how this takes attention away from your thinking and creates space.” –Eckhart Tolle
Even when it is totally lacking in subtlety, the breath is something to be celebrated. The breath is at the center of our practice. It is at the core of meditation and mindfulness. Doing yoga without the sound of the breath would be like walking through the woods in autumn without the rustling of leaves underfoot. Perhaps we can treat the breath sounds of our fellow yogis as bells of mindfulness, which brings us back to our own breath.
If Oscar Wilde had been a yogi, he might have said, the only thing worse than hearing your fellow yogis breathing is not hearing them breathing.
Ramblings of an Unbalanced Yogi 