Hara breathing is so important when practicing Reiki! The ‘hara’ literally translates to ‘belly’ in Japanese, however it is far more than just the physical. The hara is our centre of being, or where our true nature lies.
The hara
There is a phrase in Japanese ‘hara o waru’; which means to slit open one’s hara/belly. It doesn’t translate in a literal sense (a bit gruesome otherwise!), but rather it refers to one who is sincere and speaks the truth openly and honestly. When we remember our true nature, we are completely open and at ease with ourselves. There is another Japanese phrase ‘hara ga dekite iru’; meaning ‘the stomach is complete’. This phrase refers to experiencing complete calm in any situation, including death.
Gut instinct and inner knowing
In Western culture, we often refer to our gut instinct as a link to our inner knowing. Our gut feeling is when we intrinsically feel something deep within our soul, even if we don’t logically understand with our mind. Our gut instinct can be used as a guiding force when making life decisions, however it’s often challenging to listen to it! Our ego and logical mind can sometimes get in the way, overriding the subtle intuitive knowings, or gut feelings.
Centre of truth
Practicing hara breathing, or breathing into our belly or centre of truth, is very important when practicing Reiki healing. It is important to stay grounded and centred when giving a Reiki treatment, as sometimes the sensations and feelings can take us off centre! Any time we are working with energy, there is the potential to get swept up in the spiritual or energetic realm. It can help a lot to stay calm and connected to your own inner truth during energy healing treatments.
Breath is life force energy too
Breathing is something we often take for granted. It’s part of our autonomous nervous system and inhaling oxygen is an unconscious process. However, the amount of oxygen we breathe in, can influence the amount of energy that is moving through our body. It also influences the amount of oxygen that is released into our cells. The way we breathe, also influences the way we feel.
Hara meditation
Hara breathing can help with all sorts of things, not just while practicing Reiki healing! If we have a challenging Reiki client, it can help to practice hara breathing to stay calm and grounded. If we are uncertain about something, hara breathing helps us connect back to our inner knowing and truth. Hara breathing helps us relax, so we can access Reiki energy with more ease and flow. If you practice meditation, hara breathing can help relax your mind as well as your nervous system, and bring you into the present moment. You can even use hara breathing as a form of breath meditation. By focusing and tuning into the sensations of hara breathing, you can let go of your worries and fears, and be fully in the moment now.
Learn hara breathing in Reiki Level 1
If you would like to learn more about hara breathing, I would recommend doing Reiki Level 1! In this Reiki Course, you will learn not just about the hara and hara breathing, but also meditation and other breathing techniques. Reiki Level 1 will also teach you more about energy, open up your intuition, and help you tap into your inner knowing with more ease and trust.
Book in for a Reiki Course!
If you are interested in learning more about Reiki Level 1, or Reiki Level 2, check out our Reiki Courses here. If you would like more personal attention on your own inner being, perhaps book in for a pure Reiki healing or a Reiki + Coaching session! Both can help you relax, calm your mind, and help you to breathe with more ease. If you have any questions about hara breathing or anything else, you can contact me here.
