Be Aware

”Spokes are connected to make a wheel;
yet it is the hole within the hub that moves the bike.
           

Clay is molded to shape into pot;
yet it is the emptiness within that makes it an utensil.
           

Doors and windows are cut to make a room;
yet it is the inner space within that makes it livable.
           

Therefore, advantage comes from what is;
usefulness comes from what is not.”  - Lao Tzu

In Taoist regular breathing, your belly expands as you inhale and shrinks when you exhale. In Taoist reverse breathing, you do the opposite-shrink your belly when you inhale and expand your belly when you exhale. Taoist reverse breathing is sometimes called prebirth or womb breathing, because it is how babies breathe chi in and out of their bodies while in the womb.

The goals of Taoist reverse breathing include becoming aware of and controlling the subtle physical and energetic movements of your body so they deliberately occur in rhythm with your breathing. Every physical part and energetic function within your body and etheric body or aura will move in coordination with the expansions and contractions of your belly.

 

Taoist reverse breathing opens, strengthens and stabilizes the aura and is integral to one aspect of what Lao Tse called "Breathing from the Heels," which, within Taoism, is considered to be the only truly complete breathing process.

 

Practicing Taoist Reverse Breathing is one way to become more aware.  The following 4:40 second video will introduce you to this practice.