Abdominal Breathing: Take Charge

Our energy (chi) is controlled through our breathing and movement. The very first step back to heath is learning to breathe as we did when we were first born. Baby’s breathe with their abdomen; adults tend to breathe with their chest. This latter is inefficient and causes both physical and mental imbalance. When you are feeling upset, what is the first thing people tell you to do?  ‘Take a deep breath’. You should always be taking a deep breath.

Qigong means ‘breath work’.

Stand with your back straight. Breathe in and out by expanding and contracting your abdomen. Pushing it gently out when breathing in and pushing it slightly when breathing out. Your chest can stay relaxed. Once you have started this you must practice it until it becomes your unconscious way of breathing.

Since abdominal breathing is done by expanding and contracting the abdominal cavity, it draws more air into the lungs. Additionally, it moves the internal organs, massaging them and stimulating them to work more efficiently. Finally, your abdomen acts as a pump to push fluids, blood, lymphatic fluid, and chi around the body, keeping it functioning at a higher level. It pushes out toxins and washes the organs with cleansing fluids.

This simple new habit is your first step to better health. Try a Qigong lesson: Standing In a Boat