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Our breath is magical. It gives us life, and determines the state of our bodies and our minds. Blown onto freezing fingers, our breath warms us. Blown onto hot soups, our breath cools what we take into our bodies. Breath nourishes our internal chi. It is even more vital for our well being than food. The way we breathe determines how healthy and balanced we are.

Breath is the link between mind and body. Every breath we inhale feeds our body and nourishes our mind. With every exhalation, we expel unwanted molecules and negative energy. Think about how your breath affects your state of mind as well as your physical well being.

Once we know how we breathe, and once we know how to progressively improve the way we breathe, we can harness an incredible and powerful life force and ensure a healthy chi flow within the body. This, in turn, will affect the way we feel, giving us full authority over the state of our minds, our hearts, and even our bodies.

Correct breathing gives us greater control over our hearts and minds. It enables us to increase our sense of well being, and will also enhance our chances of realizing our fullest potential.

Most of us do not know how to breathe correctly. This is especially true for those of us who get insufficient exercise.

As a result, the amount of new air (and chi) that is taken into the body is usually grossly inadequate.

Worse, because the out-breath matches the in-breath, what is expelled is equally inadequate. As a result, insufficient fresh air is breathed in, and insufficient bad air is expelled.

Bad Breathing

Check how many of these symptoms of bad breathing describe your state of body and mind. Be honest with yourself. If even one or two of these situations describes you, there is good reason to consider learning how to breathe correctly.

1. Irregular breathing patterns -- usually short, shallow, and relatively fast

2. Stooped shoulders and a constricted throat and chest

3. Suffering regularly from dizzy spells and being prone to headaches

4. High-blood pressure and easily short of breath

5. Extra sensitive to heat and cold

6. Tiring out easily -- lacking in energy and vitality

7. Usually easily upset and quick tempered

8. Easily stressed out and pressured

9. Usually tense, finding it hard to relax

10. Completely lacking in stamina

Good Breathing

Good breathing is all about posture. When you open your shoulders, your chest cavity opens. This in turn expands your lung capacity, thereby increasing the amount of air you take in. Air fills up your entire lungs when you breathe in deeply and slowly, and it flushes out greater quantities of stale air as you slowly breathe out. There is no need to stick out your chest or pull in your tummy. Just breathe slowly and deeply in and out without contorting any of your physical muscles. As long as you hold a good posture without stooping your shoulders, you will soon get the feel of the technique.

You can either breathe in and out through your nostrils, or you can breathe in through the nostrils and out through the mouth. Just visualize your breath filling all the three parts of your lungs.

It is unnecessary to breathe too deeply when you start. The lung capacity must open slowly. Likewise, it is advisable not to attempt to hold your breath -- just create a regular and steady pattern of deep, slow breaths and focus on making this kind of good posture breathing a habit.

Feel your whole body suffused with wonderful fresh air, and experience all the stagnant energy flowing out of you.

If you wish, you can go deeper and engage your tummy in your new breathing exercises. Visualize the chi entering your tummy, filling it, and then visualize your tummy contracting as you breathe out. Do this lying down or standing up. If you like, you can place your palms on your tummy to feel it expanding and contracting.

Visualize the chi going all the way down to the ends of your limbs your toes and your hands. This is a powerfully energizing technique that will fill you with renewed energy and stamina.

Systematically create a feeling that fresh new chi is washing through your body and mind. It will not take you long to get the hang of it. Your capacity to achieve, and your motivation to get out there and do the things you want to do, will also be considerably enhanced.

This article was excerpted with permission from the book:

Discover Yourself
by Lillian Too.

Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Hay House. ©2002. http://www.hayhouse.com

Info/Order this book.

About the Author

Lillian Too has authored over 48 best selling books on the subject of Feng Shui, which have been translated into 27 languages. Her books sell in the millions of copies around the world, in the process popularizing feng shui worldwide.

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