The right use of breath to maintain health

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.” Thich Nhat Hanh

Instructions on the right use of breath to maintain health, and even help when dis-ease has already manifested in the body:

Sit, or lie down, and begin to become aware of your breath... notice the rise and fall of your belly, just below the navel centre. Beginners often find it easier to lie down.

Breathe in by drawing the breath all the way down into the lower abdomen, below the navel. Once the lower portion is filled, draw the breath to up into the middle portion of the chest, and then finally the upper chest. Imagine your lungs like two balloons filling up...

Imagine the flow of the breath like the tide coming in...

Then breathe out in the same way, releasing the breath from all three sections/portions of the lungs... like the tide going out. Ideally, with practice, the breath should be smooth and continuous.

This, in yogic circles, is known as 'the complete breath'.  Today, those people who wish to master yoga, have to master control of their breath.


Many dis-eases of mind and body will clear up simply through the right use of breath over time. The so-called 'civilized man' is totally ignorant of this - the adoption of bad posture and breathing habits has done more to create ill-health in the body/mind than anything else.

A return to correct breathing (as babies and animals naturally do), will help the world return to a state of health and wholeness.

Once you have mastered the complete breath, the next stage of this is to link the breath to the rhythm of your own heart beat, and this is called 'rhythmic breathing'.

[Caution to beginners: practice slowly and build up. Start with 10 to 20 breaths during any one session. Do this for 30 days to notice results.

Practise on an empty stomach, so before breakfast, for example.

The daily practice of deep breathing will most likely release a lot of 'stuck energy' in the body, and will most likely lead to physical, emotional and mental detoxification. You may, depending on your energy construct, experience temporary healing side-effects such as nausea and/or headaches; this is a natural part of the energy system 'throwing off' unwanted blockages. Drink plenty of water.]

Jaime Tanna
www.energytherapy.biz