Longevity Breathing (Taoist breathing) is the foundation for all Taoist chi development and longevity practices, including Chi Gung, Tai Chi and TAO meditation. Learning to breathe properly is one of the most important portals to healing, relaxation, rejuvenating sleep, graceful aging and spirituality.

Westerners are shallow breathers

Western and Eastern medical practitioners consider good breathing habits to be essential components of health, relaxation, longevity and spirituality. Unfortunately the majority of Westerners have poor breathing habits. They take shallow breaths, only use a portion of their lungs, even when they believe they are taking deep breaths, and hold their breaths, especially when they become nervous and tense.

Whole-body breathing is essential for optimal health

Without exception, from cradle to grave, longevity breathing is regarded as the most essential practice for optimal health. No other health practice is capable of producing such dramatic life-changing results, for the amount of effort put in, as the conscious practice of learning to breathe with your entire body in a relaxed, circular manner, without holding the breath. Breathing with the whole body has been used for millennia to enhance the ability to dissolve and release energy blockages in the mind/body, enhancing well-being and spiritual awareness.

Transformational benefits of longevity breathing

Longevity breathing goes beyond increasing oxygen capacity. Longevity breathing will help you rejuvenate and supercharge not only your lungs but also all your internal organs. It improves circulation, increases performance and reduces stress. It helps you cope with fear and anger. Longevity breathing can help alleviate cardiopulmonary problems, emphysema and asthma. It cultivates the ability to relax at any time and concentrate on what you are doing for long periods without becoming distracted. It improves mental focus and critical thinking skills. It helps you to get all the internal and external parts of your body to physically move in sync.

Supercharge your chi gung and tai chi

Incorporating longevity breathing techniques into other Taoist energy practices will help bring out their full potential. Longevity breathing will help you gain smooth and relaxed mind/body coordination and physical stamina, all of which are contributing factors to aging well. Longevity breathing is a preparatory practice for Taoist meditation. The strength or weakness of the breath is a major factor in determining the mind’s clarity and the body’s health and vitality. The Chinese word, "chi," means both energy and breath.

Principles of breathing with your whole body

These principles help you open up your whole body and breathe the way you did as a baby. You will be taught different types of breathing including:

• Breathing from the Belly: You will be taught to breathe from your belly. You learn to expand the belly with you inhale and contract it when you exhale.
• Breathing from the Side and Back: You will be taught to breathe from the sides and back of your belly and bring breath to the top of your lungs.
• Circular Breathing: You will learn to focus on not holding the breath between the end of an inhale/exhale and the beginning of the next inhale/exhale.
• Reverse Breathing: The less-known practice of reverse breathing (contracting the belly with the inhale; expanding with the exhale) is an advanced Taoist Nei gung technique. Complete reverse breathing increases the functioning of the body's ascending and descending currents of energy.

The wise man breathes from his heels.

Lao Tse, Tao Te Ching

To learn more please look at: 

Longevity Breathing [DVD]

Why learn about something as simple and ordinary as breathing? Bruce teaches a breathing practice virtually unknown in the West that keeps you relaxed and able to cope with fear and anxiety. Experience your breathing and health improve daily. Product Details...

Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body [Book]

Completely Revised and Expanded. This seminal book has inspired thousands to take up chi gung. It explains what chi gung is really about and what its benefits are. There are new chapters on breathing, sinking the chi, and the 16-part nei gung system. Product Details...