A Student of Your Breath | 8 Qualities of the Breath

The Qualities of the breath.

The breath is something that is intrinsically linked to our practice and something that is often overlooked in other physical practices. You can look up and google many different kinds of breath work and even become a certified master of breathing;).

So how does qi gong view breathing? Well first, let’s not over worry about breathing wrong or incorrectly. If you are currently alive then your breath is doing a great job of keeping you functioning and thinking, especially since the brain uses way more oxygen than almost any other part of the body, so thank your breath for all those good ideas:). Rather than think that we need to control our breath, instead look to become a student of your breath. Listen and observe for how it is already working alongside your movement and posture doing a great job without you ever having had to do a thing. To quote Sun Tzu, “The breath sets the strategy”, and how we connect to our breath is directly related to our concept of ‘song’. By taking the mental posture of a student, we can then relax into the deeper systems that bring stabilization and ease into our state.

It is also good to know that the air we breath and exchange with the environment is an aspect of environmental Qi, which is something different from the qi we are observing within our system. The beauty of the breath is that it is something we can use to ‘shine a flashlight’ or “create resonance” within our entire body, but the respiratory process is contained within some very specific spaces and uses logical mechanics. Overtime, there is an integration of sensory inputs that will help support and benefit the system.

It is as simple as beginning to learn more about the breath and how to interact and perceive it. Below are a list of qualities we can learn to observe and look for in our breath. These are intentions that we can carry with us to gently influence the nature and quality of our breath over time. Remember, intention is like a rock you cast into a pool. We are looking and listening for the splash and ripples and feeling for the change in current. They are also guides for further study as we can begin to learn what other aspects of our practice need to be present and cultivated to draw out these qualities more easily.

8 Qualities of the Breath

Gentle. Allow the breath to begin from the concept of song. Relax tension in the face and neck.
Quiet. We can listen for the breath on the inside of our ears, not the outside.
Deep. The breath should originate from the belly underneath the ribs and diaphragm.
At Ease. The breath is relaxed and not stressed. The breath tells the system that it is okay to relax.
Cotton. The breath envelopes and enfolds. It weaves, expands/contracts, stretches and fills space. Be like cotton my friend.
Grounded. “Normal people breath from their neck. The ancients breathed from their heels.” -Zhuang Zi. Work from the ground up.
Circular. The phases of the breath come and go in rhythm.
Natural. We lead, follow, observe, harmonize, and influence, not control.

You can find a lot of numbered lists in arts like qi gong. The 5 This and the 7 That, and inevitably someone will say, ’No its the 7 This and the 5 That.’ As students of the art, deciding which qualities make it on the 'official' list or not is above our pay grade:). Study earnestly and with the intention of making your own connection to the material. Using the experiences and lessons from the past as a guide and reference. Maybe there are other qualities that you have learned of or been taught. If you enjoy them then add them to 'your' list. My teacher once gave me a list of energies for the ’13 Energy’ Sword. It had 36 energies listed. :).

As another study, I highly suggest learning the basic anatomy of the body. I have put consistent time into studying anatomy and physiology for the past 30 years and I am constantly learning new things and being reminded of old. It is not about memorizing or prescribing to any specific anatomical model, it is about equipping yourself with some very useful knowledge and is very useful when interacting with breathing and postural mechanics. Expect a follow up post on this soon.

We speak about the breath in so many ways. Feel free to share a comment or ask a question on a topic related to the breath that this post might made you think of. Also, I added a short video of my practice this morning performing one of the Eagle Movements from our advanced Qi Gong set, the Tian Shan. Each movement is coordinated with the breath and entire sequence works the open and close of the body relative to the open and close of the respiratory process.

Enjoy your day,

-Sonny

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