In Chinese Medicine there are many modalities of improving ones health both from the outside in and the inside out. Although Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are very effective, the profound power that breath can have on our health is not to be ignored.
If you think about the connection between breath and life, it seems simple to come to the conclusion that the quality of your breath will reflect (or affect) your vitality. Breath is the pulsation of life. Breath is the ethereal part of life, that which we cannot see but is fundamental to our preservation of a happy and healthy life.
In Chinese Medicine it is said that we receive our “lifeforce” (or “Qi” to makes things simpler) from two sources; the things that we eat and the breath that we take.
During our daily lives it is difficult to be consciously aware of how to properly use our breath. This is why learning a meditation (or any breath work) is so important. It teaches us to use our breath in a healthy way, at first only during our mediations but eventually always. Through meditation we can not only be mindful of our breath but also we can intentionally use it to improve our lives.
In meditation we breathe clean pure air (or Qi) in through our noses and turbid or unpure air (or Qi) through our mouths. Furthermore it is said that the through the inhalations and exhalations of the nose, our soul can communicate with heaven.
What this all means is that when we learn to use our breath properly, we can improve not only our bodies but our minds and sprits as well.
There are so many different approaches and uses for breathing techniques – to relieve stress or anger, to open our lungs and assist in communication, to focus before a business meeting, to relieve pain and increase circulation. It can even be used to explore yourself and your connection to the universe or the Divine.
Here is a simple breathing exercise that you can do anywhere, the office, your home or even on the subway while commuting to work.
1. Start by either sitting or lying down, the body is relaxed, the back straight, and the top of your head facing the sky. It should be as if a string pulls up to the sky from your head and down to the ground from your tailbone. The legs may be crossed or in lotus position. (See pic)
2. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. As you breathe in expand your belly as your breathe out let the breath circulate through your whole body. This is known as belly breathing.
3. Do this about two times as day for a minimum of 9 breathes per time. practice everyday and you’ll see results right away.
For more information on more advanced mediations and breath work see your local Chinese Medicine doctor.
