The Tao of Natural Breathing (13 page)

The Inner Movements of Breath

From the Taoist perspective, the main issue in natural breathing is the movement of the actual “breath energy,” the chi, in the organism. The movement of this energy is the result of the polarity between inhalation (yang, active, upward) and exhalation (yin, passive, downward), between filling and emptying. The Taoists have observed that as we inhale, the breath energy moves upward to the head, and that as we exhale, the energy moves downward into the whole body. They have also observed that as we inhale, we can also draw the yin energy of the earth, a powerful healing energy, through our feet and upward into our body. As we exhale, we can direct any toxic or stagnant energies downward to our feet and out into the earth. The Taoists also maintain that during inhalation we can draw the yang energy of heaven directly into our body through the crown, the energy center on the very top of our head, and that during exhalation we can distribute this energy downward throughout our body (
Figure 23
).

Figure 21

Figure 22

THE POLARITY OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

Whether or not we believe in the energies of heaven and earth, we know that it is the polarity of positive and negative, of yang and yin, that creates electricity and makes energy move. We also know that there are various electromagnetic fields surrounding the earth, and that these fields are themselves manifestations of this fundamental polarity. An American firm that has produced negative ion generators for the space program points out, for example, that a natural electric field exists between the earth and the atmosphere, and that this field—which has a strength of several hundred volts per meter in an open space with unpolluted air—is usually positive in relation to the earth. The company also points out that experiments have shown that this field attracts negative ions from the upper atmosphere and produces an electric current in the body that stimulates living organisms in a beneficial way.
³⁸

The Taoists, of course, have spoken for thousands of years about the polarity of yang and yin, of up and down, of heaven and earth. As living organisms, we depend not only on chemical and electrical polarities within our bodies, but also on the electromagnetic polarity of the earth and atmosphere. As conductors within this electromagnetic field, our bodies manifest a potential difference in voltage between head (positive) and feet (negative) that increases in relation to the degree of our verticality. Other important factors include our location, the purity of the air, the climate, and so on. In a closed space with polluted air, for instance, the potential difference is virtually zero.

Figure 23

It is my belief that when we are able to breathe through our whole body, sensing our verticality from head to foot, we are aligning ourselves with the natural flow of energy connecting heaven and earth. This vertical flow may help to explain the great healing power of both tai chi and chi kung, especially when they are done, as recommended by Taoist masters, in fresh air and open spaces.

THE BENEFITS OF WHOLE-BODY BREATHING

In addition to bringing us into a more harmonious relationship with the energies of heaven and earth, whole-body breathing has a number of benefits at both the physiological and psychological levels. At the physiological level it not only increases our intake of oxygen and helps to promote efficiency in the entire breathing mechanism, but it also helps—through the internal massage it provides—to revitalize all the cells, tissues, and organs of the body, and to clear the body of any toxins. At the psychological level, whole-body breathing helps us relax enough to begin to experience ourselves from the inside out, to discover an inner attention that can take in more accurate, complete impressions of the whole of ourselves and our functioning. As this occurs—as our breath expands into hitherto unconscious parts of ourselves—our attitudes and emotions start to change and our self-image begins to release its stranglehold on our lives.

PRACTICE

Sit down and go through as many of the previous practices as time permits. When you finish these practices, let your awareness embrace the whole of your sensation. You will feel this sensation—including your skin, your tissues, your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, your organs, and your bones—as varying intensities of vibration, some denser, some finer. See how many levels of vibration you can discern.

1
Sensing the outer movements of breath

Now, within this field of sensation, begin to follow the movements involved in breathing. As you inhale, see if you can sense the downward movement of the air and your diaphragm. See if your belly expands as you inhale. If not, gently put your palms over your navel, and sense how the warmth from your palms begins to attract your breath and open your belly. As you exhale, see if you can sense the upward movement of the diaphragm and the inward movement of your belly. As you continue following these movements, notice how far they reach in your body. As you inhale, for example, see how far down the movement actually goes. Does the movement reach your pelvic floor? As you exhale, see how far up the movement goes. Does it reach your head? Don’t try to “do” anything. Simply watch as your breath begins to take in more of your body. Work in this way for 10 minutes or so.

2
Sensing the inner movements of breath

As you continue to sense these upward and downward movements in the tissues of your body, include the movements of your “breath energy.” As you inhale, see if you can sense some kind of energy, of vibration, rising upward into your head. As you exhale, see if you can sense this vibration moving downward through your whole body. Give yourself plenty of time. Using our inner attention to follow these movements is not something we are accustomed to doing. The key is to let go of any unnecessary tension and just keep “listening” to your sensation.

3
Making contact with your head and feet

Next, sense your feet resting firmly on the floor. Allow them to relax, as though they were spreading out over and even down into the floor. As they relax, you may begin to feel a vibration at the point in your foot called “bubbling springs” (the Kidney 1 acupuncture point at the upper part of the middle of your foot, as shown in
Figure 24
). Allow that vibration to spread into your whole foot, and even upward into your leg. Then, for a minute or two, massage the crown point at the top of your head with your index and middle fingers (
Figure 25
). Rest and sense the point opening. You may feel this opening as a subtle vibration, a melting, a prickly sensation, or a kind of numbness. In any event, keep your attention there until you experience a sensation of some kind.

4
Sensing your whole body breathing

As you keep your attention on your feet and crown you will begin to sense your whole body involved in breathing. As you inhale, you may feel as though you are drawing the bubbling sensation in your feet all the way up through the tissues and organs of your body to join with the breath energy moving to the top of your head. As you exhale, you may sense the inner energy of your breath spreading downward through your entire body toward your feet. When this happens, just enjoy this sensation of the breath energy moving upward and downward in your body. Observe any areas where your breath does not seem to penetrate or move. Work for at least 10 minutes in this way, simply observing the rising and falling of energy, of sensation, through your body. If you don’t feel these movements yet, don’t worry. This can take time. Just go on to the next practice.

Figure 24

Figure 25

5
Lengthening your spine

Stand again in the basic standing posture, with your knees slightly bent and your feet parallel, about shoulder width apart. Let your shoulders relax and your arms simply hang at your sides. Put your attention on the bubbling springs point on both feet and on the crown point. Feel the vibration in both areas. Allow your inhalation to rise from your feet and go all the way up to and out through the top of your head. As it moves up through the top of your spine and your head you may, especially during your first few breaths, sense your spine being lengthened and your head being pulled upward so that it rests more lightly on your spine. Allow your exhalation to start from the top of your head and go down through your feet into the earth. Be sure to stay in touch with your spine as you exhale; see if you can maintain its length. Feel as though your breath is simultaneously raising you upward and rooting you downward (
Figure 26
). Don’t think about the irrationality of this experience—just let it happen.

Figure 26