Core Body Breathing: Natural and Reverse Forms.

This is an update of the original core body breathing article that you can find HERE

Core body breathing is a form of breathing that I find particularly useful when practicing Qi Gong as a method for developing a sense of mind-body synchronization. It is also an excellent way of developing a general awareness of Qi or energy within our body, facilitating the gradual opening and unblocking of our subtle bodies' energy channels and meridians.
It promotes an overall sense of balance and well being within our physical and psychological self. It works very well to dissipate stress and tension that has built up within our mind and body over time.
Like the other forms of Qi Gong breathing, it can be practiced on its own as a meditation form in its own right.

What do we mean by the ‘core’ of the body?
In this context, the ‘core’ of the body means the energetic center-point of any given area of the body. 
With regard to the head, neck and torso, you could say that there is a core, a center-line of balance that runs from the crown of our head, down through the center of our brain, neck, chest and abdomen to the perineum (the mid point between the sexual organs and the anus).
With regard to the arms and hands, their core can be visualized and felt as a line of energy that runs down from the shoulders, through the center point of the upper arms, elbow joints and forearms. After passing through the wrists, it then splits into five lines of energy that flow down through the hands into the fingers and thumb.
In a similar way with regard to the legs and feet, their core can be seen and felt as two lines flowing down the center of the legs from the hips, each line splitting into five lines within the feet which pass down though the center point of each of the toes.

Your bodies core can be visualized as a line of light running through out the center of your head, torso and limbs as described above.

Practicing core body breathing
Core body breathing can be practiced in two styles, normal and reverse.

''Normal'' core body breathing.
This exercise can be done seated or by adopting the foundational Qi Gong standing posture. Allow yourself a short while to get comfortable, and then become aware of your body's core as described above. Focus particularly on the core of your body from the sacral area up to the mid-higher chest area. As you breathe in, feel your body's Qi in the form of light and energy expanding outwards from your body's core, moving out to the surface of your body and into your energy field, so that by the time you reach the top of your inhalation you feel as if your body is surrounded by a field of energy and light, forming a sphere or egg shape around the body, and extending perhaps 30cms from the surface of the skin.
As you breathe out, feel the light and energy contracting back towards your core, so that by the time you reach the bottom of your inhalation you feel as if your Qi has become condensed and focused within the ore of your body.
Repeat for 2-5 mins.

''Reverse'' core body breathing.
As you breathe out, feel light and energy moving from the core of your body our toward the surface of your skin, and then beyond it about 30cms so that by the time you finish your exhalation you feel as if your body is surrounded by a sphere or egg of energy and light. As you breathe in, feel that light and energy moving in toward your bodies core, so that by the time you have finished breathing in you feel as if all your Qi has become condensed and focused within the core of your body.
Repeat for 2-5 minutes.

© Toby Ouvry 2010, please do not reproduce without permission.