Tai Chi--The Perfect Exercise by Arthur Rosenfeld

Author:Arthur Rosenfeld [Rosenfeld, Arthur]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780738216614
Publisher: Da Capo Press

EXPLORATION #2

Belly Breathing

THE SINKING, RELAXING, SPIRALING MOVEMENTS OF TAI CHI pump our qi through your body in much the way a bellows pumps air to fan the flames in a fireplace. The bigger and deeper our movements, the stronger the action of the bellows. The way we breathe can also enhance this pumping, effectively pressurizing our qi flow.

The first of the two breathing exercises is belly breathing.

To breathe with your belly is to loosen your abdominal muscles with your inhale and contract them upon exhale. To get the hang of this, lie down on your back and use a thin pillow to lift your head so you can look down at your belly and monitor your breath. Avoid using your chest to breathe, something we are all inclined to do. Noticing this tendency, consciously relax the muscles between the ribs and soften the muscles of your chest until your whole upper body sinks into the floor or bed and you feel a sense of pervasive calm.

Inhaling, watch the stomach rise; exhaling, watch the stomach fall. The act of focusing on your breathing may cause you to breathe too quickly and deeply at the start, so try to control your respiratory rate. The breath should have the quality of the tide, moving in and moving out without a perceptible stop or hold. You may wish to practice this for five or ten minutes.

While you do not want to consciously force the breath while you are moving in tai chi (especially at the beginning, awareness of your breath is very helpful. In particular, you can notice the relationship between breath and relaxation. It is natural to soften and sink your torso into your pelvis upon exhale, and worth trying not to tense up upon inhale. It is fine to inhale when transitioning from one posture or movement to the next, so long as you remain relaxed, and to exhale with the execution of a tai chi maneuver.

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