"One aims through practice to change from breathing in the chest to abdominal breathing, thus developing one's respiration from 'shallow and restless' to 'deep and calming'."
Proper breathing is an important strategy and
technique in the Qigong practice. It is also a technique that has to be
practiced daily until it becomes natural (a way of life). Proper breathing
can calm the mind, lower blood pressure, and provide other benefits to the mind
and body. Mastering Qigong breathing is the key to improving and
maintaining your health.
Through proper abdominal breathing, lung capacity can be improved promoting the circulation of oxygen in the blood, massaging the internal abdominal organs, and helping digestion and assimilation of food.
Qigong breathing in this section refers to the "mindful" gathering of the energy that surrounds you (Kun Yen Qi) and storing that energy within the abdomen (Lower Dan Tian). Breathing cleanses the body of old and sick energies and replaces them with positive, healing energy. This technique is used for energy cultivation (the building of energy within the body for self or external healing).
Qigong breathing is also used to open up the Heaven's Gate and the Third Eye.
Qigong Breathing
Preparation: Relax (whether sitting or standing) - take a deep breath, hold that breath for a few seconds, release the breath and mentally tell yourself to relax. Repeat this three or four times.
Inhaling: First and foremost, become mindfully aware of your breathing. Gently inhale (slowly and quietly) guiding your breath into the abdomen (Lower Dan Tian). Feel your abdomen expand as the Qi fills up your stomach. Visualize and feel Vital Energy (Kun Yen Qi) being transported into your body cleansing and healing it. If you have a health issue, visualize your breath transporting the energy (Qi) into your body - traveling to the targeted area. See the healing Qi replacing the sick cells, killing the virus, or repairing the injured bones or tissue.
Exhale: Gently exhale (slowly and quietly) using your abdominal muscles to guide the air out of your Lower Dan Tian. As you exhale, be mindful that you are ridding the body of old, negative and sick energy (Qi). If you have a particular disease, gently focus your mind on pushing out the sick energy. Use your mind and breath to transport it into the surrounding environment. Sometimes it is helpful to visualize the exhaled breath as a dark cloud.
As you exhale, sense tension, stress, fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, pain, sickness and disease leaving your mind and body.
Feel your mind become calm and your body more relaxed. Sense your spirit begin to soar as the Vital Energy expands outward from the Lower Dan Tian to fill the entire body. Understand that all 75 trillion cells are now energized and the entire body is being healed.
Continue breathing this way for twenty to thirty minutes.
