How to Breathe

While concentrating the breath should be soft, long, and smooth.

After a while you can forget about your breath. Attention to breath

will only distract the mind which must focus on drawing energy to

the desired points. There are thousands of esoteric breathing methods;

you might spend your whole life mastering them and acquire

no lasting energy.

But once the Chi is awakened and you complete the route you

may experience many different breathing patterns: rapid breathing,

shallow breathing, deep breathing, prolonged retention of breath,

spinal cord breathing, inner breathing, crown breathing, soles of

the feet breathing, etc. You need not try to regulate your breath as

breathing patterns will occur automatically according to the body’s

needs.

Breathe noiselessly through the nose. Make the breathing

smooth and gentle. Any sound passage of the breath will mar your

concentration, and if your breathing is rough you will not succeed

in attaining a complete state of calm. But take care, if you interfere

with the breathing you will arrest the flow of energy.

In the beginning if you have difficulty focusing, count from one to

ten and ten to one, five times. You can take thirty-six abdominal

long, slow, deep breaths which will lower the energy held in your

chest, shoulders, arms, and head, and help you attain inner calm.

Once you have acquired energy and concentration you can imagine

energy entering every pore when you inhale and leaving every

pore when you exhale. In this way you will experience the entire

surface of your body breathing.