When i meditate and try to "breathe deeply into my belly", why does it hurt? am i doing it wrong?

Question

i get this sort of ache, like it's too full behind my ribs/in my lungs. it's very hard to get a good breath, unlike when i breathe into my chest- i can breathe as deeply as i want into my chest. i wonder if it's my posture that's causing the problem? i tend to tilt my pelvis backwards, if that means anything. i am just wondering if this happens to everyone, or if i'm misunderstanding the instructions, or what- because it's hard to relax when i'm so focused on the discomfort.

Answer 1

Read http://www.helium.com/tm/148271 then sit down and do your regular meditation. When the discomfort signal starts "see" it and find out what the problem is.

Answer 2

I suspect you are not used to being grounded. Practice really relaxing your body before you take those deep breaths. Keep your body straight up and erect. ( keep the flow even). By tilting your pelvis backwards, you care shutting down your sexual energy and your power flow. ( this may be your norm, but learn to stay straight) By keeping your body straight you will increase the energy flow through your pelvis and up through your lungs. As far as the "cramp", I suspect you are used to "collapsing" that area of your solor plexus, and thus when you bring a lot of air into it, it feels like a cramp. There are many levels, and ways to work with this. On the emotional level: As you keep you body upright, remind yourself what a valuable, and beautiful person you are. On the physical level, say to yourself: "It is Ok and natural for me to fill my body with oxygen. My body is healthy, happy, and oxygen nourishes me. As far as relaxation, learn to let your body relax one part at a time( head, face, chest, stomach...down to toes.) Picture soothing light filling your body from the head and radiating and filling down to your toes.) You can learn how to master this with practice.