Traditional Chinese healing uses special breathing techniques that can have a big impact on your spiritual and emotional wellness. Grandmaster Erle Montaigue, a Chinese martial arts and healing instructor, explains that your breath resides between your mind, body, and spirit, and so can bring harmony to these three areas of your well-being. Plus, breathing techniques serve to clear and focus your mind, increase your energy levels, relax your stress levels and help you lose weight.
First and foremost, you need to learn how to breathe from your belly. Your stomach should move out and expand when you inhale, and move in and contract when you inhale. While it sounds simple, this breathing technique facilitates deeper and more relaxed breathing which, in turn, increases your lung capacity and pumps your blood with more oxygen. When there is more oxygen in your blood, your metabolism works more efficiently and waste is removed from your body better.
Natural breathing helps to reduce stress and alleviate anxiety, so it’s a great one to do at the end of a busy work day. Lie down in a comfortable position and place your hands over your belly button. Then you simply breathe through your nose, and use your stomach to move your hands up and down. Once you’re able to breathe naturally from your stomach throughout the day, you’re ready to use the breath to clear your mind. Sitting on a chair with your back straight and your feet flat on the floor, begin breathing through your nose (using your stomach, of course). Gradually slow your breathing, and focus on the temperature of your breath as it passes in and out of your nose. Doing this for five minutes, three or four times a day, helps to clear your mind of thoughts and relax.
To increase your awareness, focus and discipline, inhale as you count to five and exhale as you continue count to ten. You can then change these numbers once you become comfortable with the exercise, aiming to inhale on a count of 10 and exhale on a count of 20. This means that you’re taking two breaths every minute, and should try to do this for 10 minutes after five minutes of mind-clearing breathing. This helps to make you aware of your surroundings, in tune with your emotions, and more in line with a rational and realistic view of things.