Meditation...

[MadMen]

Just a quickie, as I have to go out, but when you meditate, should you be breathing in and out through the nose, or is it in through the mouth and out through the nose?

I think I'm doing it right, but I'm having trouble felling 'comfortable' with the breathing - like I'm concentrating on it too much?

Also, is it 'normal' to feel slight detached when you stop and stand up? TIA.

[Kiki-frog]

I was taught in through the nose and out through the mouth, but I think it depends on what system you've learned. Feeling a bit spaced out is perfectly normal as you've been focusing your awareness away from your immediate surroundings. I love it - it really puts life in perspective for me

[AlwaysConfused]

inhale - mouth exhale - nose
but we all have different methods

[Old_Geezer]

I think it depends on the meditation you are trying. Some like you to do one nostril then another. Others don't focus on that so much. Were I you I'd concentrate on getting the mental state sorted before being overly concerned about adding bits. IMO if you are concentrating on that then your mind isn't still.

[MadMen]

Well that's what I always thought, in through the nose and out through the mouth (it's what I do when I have a panic attack) but I looked on YouTube and the majority of the videos said it should be in the nose and out through the nose. It just doesn't feel fully comfortable, but maybe that's just because I'm not used to it.
I just did it upstairs, and when I came to go down the stairs, I felt a bit 'wobbly' and spaced out?
I must be doing something right though, as it's made such a difference on me being able to go to sleep easily at night!

[elliemay1]

I was taught to breathe in and out through the nose. Wish I could get into it properly as so many people say it helps them.

[MadMen]

I decided to give it a go as I find getting to sleep such a battle.
I swapped alcohol for meditation and, touch wood, it's working.

Interestingly, I went out for lunch yesterday with my family and gave into the pressure of having a drink, and it's made me feel like I did last week - panicky, jittery and anxious.

[yogasun]

Whatever you are comfortable with but should always be in through nose as the nose filters, warms and moistens the air before its pasage to the lungs.
There are lots of different techniques and I have taught most of them.
O-G touched on alternate nostril breath - very relaxing. Google it.

Go back to ordinary breathing before you 'come out' of meditation because it can make you feel spaced out, quite normal.

[MadMen]

Thanks, yoga. I was hoping you were about :-)

Thanks for the tip about 'normal' breathing before I 'come out' of meditation. I'll be sure to do that this evening.