We can experience the breath as an agent of awareness. Each of us has a familiar body pattern that determines where we feel the movement of breath. It includes a tendency to sense and occupy certain parts of the body and not others. The Sun Breath invites our awareness to expand to include our whole body, welcoming whatever sensations are there and taking us beyond our familiar pattern of awareness.
 
The Movement:
Sense the breath as it is arising in the moment. Where does it seem to move? What parts of the body does it touch? What parts are not moved much by the breath? Where is there more and less awareness in the body? The Sun Breath focuses the movement of breath in different directions to gradually include more of the body.

 

Begin by inviting a little more breath. Direct the breath into the lower body – the belly, pelvis, legs, and feet. Welcome any sensations that you find there. After several breaths (as many as you like), begin to invite the breath into the upper body – the ribs, arms, neck, and head. After the awareness has increased, sense breath moving up and down through the body at the same time.

Next, focus on the whole front of the body, letting breath expand forward, including the forefoot through the front of the legs, pelvis, belly, ribs, arms, neck and head. You may want to take a slight step forward to let the front of the body expand easily. Again, and always, welcome any sensations you encounter. After some breaths, shift the focus to the whole back of the body. Your body may shift to the back foot a bit as the back of the body expands. When you feel the awareness expanded there, let the breath expand into the front and back at the same time.   

Then, focus on the sides of the body. Widen your stance slightly so your weight can shift slightly to the side you are breathing into. Take time breathing into one whole side, from foot to crown before switching to the other side. When both sides feel awake, or ‘filled out,’ or ‘filled in,’ include both sides in a few breaths.

Finally, invite the breath in all directions through the whole body at once. After some ‘total breaths’ you may notice places that want more attention or more breath. Take some time with those places, then finish with total body breaths.