Exchange Breath
We have written this book for the beginner. It is intended to be accessible for anyone who is curious about Tantra, and for those who want to learn a few techniques to enhance their sex lives. We chose the format to make the book user-friendly and to give you specific ways of giving erotic experiences more richness and depth, whether or not you have interest in delving into the tradition more deeply or exploring the many nonsexual aspects of Tantra. That said, some of the techniques we are sharing, while simple, are actually advanced, powerful, and may be somewhat obscure. Our teacher, Dr. Jonn Mumford, introduced us to the practice of exchanging breath. It is a traditional technique that he learned in India.
Exchanging breath is powerful on multiple levels. We have already discussed the meaning of the Sanskrit word prana and the importance of working with the breath in the Tantric and Yogic traditions. Remember that the word prana implies both breath and the energy that surrounds us, which we take in by breathing. Also remember that pranayama implies both regulation of the breath and regulation of the energy. More often than not, pranayama is a solo practice, designed to direct the flow of energy in your own body. This technique is pranayama for two, and it will affect you both physiologically and psychically.
The process is quite simple. All you have to do is maintain lip contact and exhale as your partner inhales. Next, your partner exhales as you inhale. Continue to exchange breaths in this manner for as long as you comfortably can. You may be surprised at the number of breaths you can exchange without coming up for air. There is no need to worry about lack of oxygen; our bodies absorb only a small percentage of the oxygen contained in each inhalation. When you start feeling that the oxygen has been depleted (this is actually due to the build-up of carbon dioxide, not a lack of oxygen), you can end the kiss and take a fresh inhalation. After that, you can take a break or return to exchanging breaths.
You can also try this technique during intercourse. It may take some practice, since coordination is a factor, but once you get accustomed to it, you are likely to have some very interesting experiences. From an energetic standpoint, you will be creating a closed circuit, since you are united above and below, and the energy of both your breath and your sex will be flowing back and forth between and through you.
If exchanging saliva is one of the most intimate of acts, exchanging the very air we depend on for life is even more profoundly so. In the context of intercourse, exchanging breath is likely to amp up your arousal and lead to orgasms that have a different kind of intensity, once you have developed the skills to do the practice when you are very turned on. Just remember to end the practice before either one of you starts to come, or you may end up with a chipped tooth (as we discovered). If you get lightheaded during sex, chances are it is because of the intimacy and charge of this erotic exchange. Whether you use the technique in intercourse, as foreplay, or just as a way to create more intimacy, this is a beautiful way to share the energy that literally keeps us alive.