Post by Mysti on Aug 6, 2007 19:59:37 GMT -5
Ki Breathing
This is a breathing exercise for health. Through whole body breathing you will send not only oxygen, but also a fresh supply of ki to every part of your body. In addition it will also help to clean your blood. Other reasons for doing ki breathing are to relax and center yourself. For the maximum benefits, you should do it for 20 to 30 minutes in the morning and 20 to thirty minutes in the evening. You can build up to this gradually. Do not try to do it right from the start unless you are an accomplished meditator. Ki breathing is best done sitting in the kneeling position (seiza), but you can use a straight backed chair as long as you hold your spine straight. (ie. Don't slump in the chair, but don't sit at rigid attention either. Stay relaxed). If you are sick and in bed, you can also get benefits from doing ki breathing in bed. If you fall asleep, do not worry. When you are in deep sleep is the time when your body takes in universal ki.
Method.
1. Sit in a relaxed position.
(see my previous essays about relaxing for this purpose).
2. You can close your eyes or keep them open - it does not matter.
3. Keeping your mouth closed completely, breath very very slowly in through your nose.
4a.Visualise the breath going not to your lungs but deep down to the one point (see my previous essays). Visualise the ki flowing to every part of your body.
OR
4b. Visualise the ki flowing up through your body from your feet up to your head.
(I have done it both ways and they both work equally well).
5. When you have reached a count of 23*, stop breathing in. At this point your body should be under NO tension at all. You should NOT feel as though you are holding your breath in and bursting!*
*For beginners, it is best to gradually work up to 23. Try starting with a count of 10 and building it up. The main point is that you should be relaxed at all times.
6. Inclining the top part of your body slightly forward, exhale through your mouth for a count of 23**
*The same rule as before applies to beginners. Build up to it gradually.
As you exhale you should make a continuous, slightly audible 'hah' sound. This helps you to understand you are breathing out and not to take a quick breath in.
7. As you breath out you should visualise the ki as pouring out of your body to infinity, going on and on forever EVEN AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED BREATHING OUT.
8. When you have breathed out as far as you can go, incline your body just a little more forward to expel any small amount of remaining air there might be.
9. Return your body to its upright position and start the cycle again by breathing in as before.
** Why count to 23?
23 seconds is the time it takes for your blood to circulate through your body once. Therefore by breathing in for 23 seconds you are aerating every part of your body. As you breathe out for 23 seconds, you are expelling the poisons in your blood for one complete circulation.
Remember to take it easy and go slowly at first. If you do this exercise regularly you will maintain a good supply of fresh ki. This will help you to remain healthy and positive. You will feel energised.
Mystik
This is a breathing exercise for health. Through whole body breathing you will send not only oxygen, but also a fresh supply of ki to every part of your body. In addition it will also help to clean your blood. Other reasons for doing ki breathing are to relax and center yourself. For the maximum benefits, you should do it for 20 to 30 minutes in the morning and 20 to thirty minutes in the evening. You can build up to this gradually. Do not try to do it right from the start unless you are an accomplished meditator. Ki breathing is best done sitting in the kneeling position (seiza), but you can use a straight backed chair as long as you hold your spine straight. (ie. Don't slump in the chair, but don't sit at rigid attention either. Stay relaxed). If you are sick and in bed, you can also get benefits from doing ki breathing in bed. If you fall asleep, do not worry. When you are in deep sleep is the time when your body takes in universal ki.
Method.
1. Sit in a relaxed position.
(see my previous essays about relaxing for this purpose).
2. You can close your eyes or keep them open - it does not matter.
3. Keeping your mouth closed completely, breath very very slowly in through your nose.
4a.Visualise the breath going not to your lungs but deep down to the one point (see my previous essays). Visualise the ki flowing to every part of your body.
OR
4b. Visualise the ki flowing up through your body from your feet up to your head.
(I have done it both ways and they both work equally well).
5. When you have reached a count of 23*, stop breathing in. At this point your body should be under NO tension at all. You should NOT feel as though you are holding your breath in and bursting!*
*For beginners, it is best to gradually work up to 23. Try starting with a count of 10 and building it up. The main point is that you should be relaxed at all times.
6. Inclining the top part of your body slightly forward, exhale through your mouth for a count of 23**
*The same rule as before applies to beginners. Build up to it gradually.
As you exhale you should make a continuous, slightly audible 'hah' sound. This helps you to understand you are breathing out and not to take a quick breath in.
7. As you breath out you should visualise the ki as pouring out of your body to infinity, going on and on forever EVEN AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED BREATHING OUT.
8. When you have breathed out as far as you can go, incline your body just a little more forward to expel any small amount of remaining air there might be.
9. Return your body to its upright position and start the cycle again by breathing in as before.
** Why count to 23?
23 seconds is the time it takes for your blood to circulate through your body once. Therefore by breathing in for 23 seconds you are aerating every part of your body. As you breathe out for 23 seconds, you are expelling the poisons in your blood for one complete circulation.
Remember to take it easy and go slowly at first. If you do this exercise regularly you will maintain a good supply of fresh ki. This will help you to remain healthy and positive. You will feel energised.
Mystik