Six Character Breathing

A. Preparation Position

1.   Stand comfortably and naturally with both hands on their sides.

2.   Return to this position after exhaling.

B. Breathing Method

1.      Inhale through the nose (mouth closed) and exhale through the mouth.

2.      Pull the diaphragm downwards when inhaling and push it upwards when exhaling.

C. Character for the liver

1.      While inhaling:

·         Shift body weight forwards to the toes;

·         Raise both arms to shoulder level, palms facing downwards;

·         Bend both elbows to bring the hands to the chest, as if holding a ball.

2.   Hold the breath and

·         draw in the abdomen, pull the anus upwards;

·         shift the body weight backwards to both heels, clutch toes slightly on the ground and shrink both shoulders.

 3.   While exhaling:

·         Men put the right palm on top of the left. Women put the left palm on top of the right. The two palms pivot at Laogong;

·         Place the Yuji (LU 10) of the palm underneath on the umbilicus. Laogong point of the same hand will be on Dantian;

·         Say "xu" ( as in asking people to quiet down) when exhaling. Lips slightly closed;

·         At the same time, visualize green light entering the liver.

·         Return the body to the preparation position for another breath.

·         Do 6 breaths for this character.

D. Character for the heart

1.      While inhaling:

·         Raise both hands to shoulder level.

·         Turn the palms upwards

2.   While exhaling:

·         Turn palms downwards as both hands are brought to the chest.

·         Continue to lower the hands until they reach the abdomen.

·         Hang hands naturally on the side.

·         Meanwhile, with mouth half-opened and tongue pressed against the hard palate, say "ke" (as if pronouncing the word ‘car’, but with a very short ‘k’ and explosive).

·         At the same time, visualize red light entering the heart.

3.    Return the body to the preparation position for another breath.

·        Do 6 breaths for this character.

E.  Character for the stomach

1.      While inhaling

·         Raise both hands to the chest level.

·         Continue to raise the right hand upwards as if holding a plate. The palm faces upwards and fingers facing left. Stretched the hand up the top of the head. The left hand remains at the chest level.

2.   While exhaling

       Say "hu" (as wh in who) and visualize yellow light entering the stomach.

·        Meanwhile, turn the palm of the left hand downwards and lower the hand to the left hip.

3.   For the second breathe:

·         Inhale as the left hands rises. Turn the palm upwards, fingers facing the right. Stretch the hand up the top of the head.

·         Meanwhile, turn the right downwards and lower the hand to the hip level. Say "hu" (as wh in who) and visualize yellow light entering the stomach.

4.      For the remaining four breaths, repeat Step 2 and Step 3 with left      and right hands reversed.

F. Character for the lungs

1.        While inhaling:

·        Bring both hands up the chest, palms facing upwards.

  2.    While exhaling:

·        Turn both palms inwards till both back of the hands are facing each other.

·        Spread out both hands as if doing breaststroke.

·        Meanwhile say "si" (as if imitating the sounds of snakes) and visualize white light entering the lungs.

3.     Return the body to the preparation position for another breath.

·        Do 6 breaths for this character.

G.  Character for the kidneys

1.        While inhaling:

·         Raise both hands to the chest level. Bend elbows until fingers on the left are pointing at fingers on the right.

2.    While exhaling:

·         Say "chui" and visualize blue light enter the kidneys.

·         Meanwhile, clutch the toes and squat down.

·         Both hands remain in the same position while squatting.

·         When exhalation is completed, drop both hands and hang on their sides.

  3.    For the second breathe:

·         Inhale as the body begins to rise.

·         Continue by repeating Step 1 and 2.

  4.    Do 6 breaths for this character.

H. Character for triple warmer

1.        While inhaling

·         Bring both hands to the chest level.

  2.    While exhaling

·         Continue to raise both hands.

·         Turn both wrists inside. Palms are now facing upwards and fingers are point at each other.

·         Meanwhile say "xi" (similar to "si" except with muscles in the back of the tongue contracted).

3.      When exhalation is completed, turn the wrists outside and turn    the palms downwards. Slowly lower both hands to the chest level. Meanwhile, inhale.

4.      Continue to lower both hands to the hip level and exhale but without say the sound. This is considered as one breath.

   5.   Repeat from Step 1 to Step 4 for five more breaths.