Circular Breathing, Didgeridoos, and Meditation

Breathing is to life as meditation is to tranquility. Breathing is to meditation as sunrise is to the day. Deep, belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing), a natural faculty we're all born with, is essential for advanced grounding and meditation. When you breathe properly, your belly, not your chest, expands and contracts. Although many of us have forgotten our instinctive ability to belly breathe, with practice, patience, and perseverance, relearning can be easy and fun! How? Through the use of an ancient Australian aboriginal woodwind instrument known as a didgeridoo, and a technique used to play it called circular breathing.

Australian aborigines, the world's oldest continuous culture, have handed down dreamtime revelations regarding this ancient instrument from generation to generation for hundreds of centuries. It is believed to have been first seen in Australia's Northern Territory, the Outback. Aboriginal elders support native legends tracing the didgeridoo back to the creation of the world. Today, didgeridoos are popular worldwide and are used in many genres of modern music as well as movie soundtracks.

The didgeridoo, a long tubular instrument, produces a deep, breathy, reverberating tone called the "drone." One end has a small opening that you blow into, the other end has a large opening where the sound comes out. Didgeridoos average two to four inches in diameter, four to five feet in length, and are available in most keys. The keys of C, D, and E are recommended for beginners. They are fashioned from both natural and synthetic materials. Natural materials include bamboo, yucca, agave, gourd, and termite hollowed eucalyptus tree trunks with a beeswax mouthpiece. Synthetic materials include plastic and fiberglass.

The extremely low frequencies produced by the didgeridoo are strongest in the 50 - 200 hertz range. Frequencies hovering within the range of alpha brainwaves are also produced. This creates a highly favorable vibratory environment for grounding, relaxation, and meditation. When playing the didgeridoo while meditating, the mesmerizing sound of the drone becomes a mantra akin to the sound of 'om' commonly used in meditation.

A starter didgeridoo can be purchased at a local music store for around $30. These less expensive didgeridoos are typically made of bamboo and are perfect for beginners. The more expensive, hand made eucalyptus didgeridoos range in price from around $200 on up to thousands. Many aborigines make their living crafting such instruments and will often adorn their masterpieces with hand painted art depicting scenes of their life, native villages, and countryside.

Circular breathing is not a prerequisite to playing the didgeridoo, although it is a technique well worth pursuing. Circular breathing enables the didgeridoo player to maintain a continuous tone. From an observer's perspective, this creates the illusion that the player never takes a breath. The secret is to store air in the cheeks, like a balloon, releasing that air while inhaling through the nose to replenish the lungs.

Try this exercise. Remember to use belly breathing whenever inhaling or exhaling air in and out of your lungs.

While holding your breath, fill your cheeks with air and hold it by pressing your lips together. You may temporarily resemble a chipmunk but that's okay! Now, as you continue to hold the breath in your lungs, use the muscles in your cheeks to squeeze some of the air out of your mouth causing your closed lips to loosely vibrate. This should produce a buzzing sound.

Next, repeat the above exercise with one variation. While you squeeze your cheeks together to push the air in you cheeks out through your loosely vibrating lips, inhale through your nose.

Lastly, exhale the air in your lungs through your closed, loosely vibrating lips producing a buzzing sound.

It takes time to master this, so be patient. Once you can repeat these steps several times in a row, try it on your didgeridoo.

Circular breathing is an advanced technique so, for now, we'll focus on a beginner's technique so you can start playing right away.

Press your lips against, and slightly into the didgeridoo mouthpiece, and blow air through your lips to make them loosely vibrate. This will produce the drone. You might produce some strange sounds, and it might tickle your lips at first, but with practice, you will produce a smooth, steady note that is uniquely yours. When your lungs become empty, keep your lips pressed against the mouthpiece, inhale through your nose, and blow out again to produce your drone. Once you are comfortable with this beginner's technique you will be ready to meditate with your didgeridoo!

Sit comfortably in your favorite meditative space and quiet your mind with some deep breathing. Place the didgeridoo mouthpiece against your lips and begin blowing into it, vibrating your lips to produce your drone. Relax into your drone. It is your mantra. Continue your drone with each exhale for as long as is comfortable. Each time you meditate with your didgeridoo, your drone will last longer, and the rhythmic breathing required to produce it will soon become effortless.

Playing your didgeridoo and circular breathing are new tools that you can add to your relaxation toolbox. The healthy diaphragmatic breathing techniques you perfect while meditating with your new instrument will benefit you for life. Even in the midst of today's frenetic society, using calm inducing deep breathing, you can retreat inward to your personal sanctuary of inner peace.

Jim Blue is an accomplished recording artist, composer, author, guitarist, vocalist, and Reiki Master. His popular CD releases include "Crystal Blue Tranquility" and "Meditations for Tranquility." For further information, please visit his website www.BlueTranquility.com