Qi / Reverse Breathing
Qi breathing or reverse breathing is an ancient Taoist breathing technique that focuses on the lower abdomen and uses the mind / visualization to help maintain health or heal the body, the mind and the spirit. It supports the connection between the lower body and the upper body, the yin and the yang, thus improving the balance and communication between them. If the yin and yang are not balanced the body cannot heal. I was taught this breathing technique in, “Spring Forest Qigong” and use it daily.
Full Text Excerpt from Video
First allow yourself to get comfortable, you can do this standing, sitting or lying down. Try to have your spine straight, your shoulders relaxed. After you learn the breathing note if you have high blood pressure, fever or a headache place your palms down otherwise place your palms up.
Now we will begin, take three deep breaths, allow your shoulders to relax with your breath allow them to simply to melt or drop. When the shoulders are tense they affect the organs and block the energy flow through the shoulders and this effects the whole body, when the shoulders are relaxed and soften the whole body relaxes and softens and the energy can flow. So take a couple breaths and allow them to relax and soften.
Second, to get a feel for the movement of this breathing technique, place one hand on the upper abdomen above the navel and one hand on the lower abdomen below the navel. You will be feeling both areas simultaneously rise and sink. When you inhale you will feel the upper hand (above the navel) rise and the lower hand (below the navel) sink. When you exhale you will feel the upper hand sink and the lower hand rise.
Breath in, upper hand rises, the lower hand sinks.
Breath out the upper hand sinks and the lower hand rises
Take long gentle breaths. Do not move your abdomen to hard and fast.
Feel the air move from one point to the other.
Lastly, you will be using your mind and/or imagination directing the energy or qi.
When you inhale and exhale use every pore of your body to breathe. Your body becomes like one lung, effortlessly allowing air in and out. If you cannot imagine this just say in your mind I am using every pore on my body to breathe.
When you inhale you visualize universal energy coming in through every pore of your body. You may see it as light.
When you exhale you visualize any sickness, pain, and stress as extra energy change/transform into smoke, colors, butterflies or whatever comes to you, going out of every pore, every cell of the body to the ends of the universe.
Every time you breathe in you see light coming into your body and when you exhale you see your blockages or whatever you do not need transform and leave the body.
Now let us put them together:
Breath the energy in through every pore of your body, feel your upper hand rise, the lower hand sink.
Breath out, let everything go that you do not need, see it leave as smoke or butterfly’s feel the upper hand sinks and the lower hand rises.
Once you learn this technique you may practice it where ever you are. Breathe at your own pace. Deep slow conscious breathing has long been a vital element of qigong. Many studies show that people who take fewer, longer breathes live longer and healthier lives.