Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Spring Forest Qigong Breathing

I would like to know what Master Lin thanks about useing the xi xi hu breathing while doing SFG. Maybe doing ten times before or after active exercise with walking or hand movement.

Aloha Cleo,

There are a lot of breathing techniques out there. Chunyi has included what he has seen and found the most benefit from in the manual, as well as the visualization to go with it under the "walking qigong section."

Since he doesn't have time to put every technique or nick-knack through a long-term test, he would also respond to a person asking such a question to work with it for a while and see what you find for yourself over a month or two of doing that type of two-puff, one long breath walking breathing.

Much Love, Shawn

Thanks Shawn, so far I can't see a lot of difference. At times I thank maybe, guess that may be just my condition at the time. Will keep going for a while and let you know what I think later
Many thanks
Cleo

Hi,
I can offer a few considerations regarding this type of breathing. I have seen/used this type of breathing in other qigongs. I believe it is what you are referring to. Two inhales, and one exhale..
There are general ingredients to qigong that make it effective.
Oxygenation, infusing oxygen, heightening breath intake is one.
All gigongs work with breathing. I don't know of any who just focus on that particular breathing as an isolated thing, or something you can sort of put into another qigongs alignments/movements. In one context I know, it is 'part' of a walking qigong. The other parts are just as vital. Smiling, a sense of youthfulness, turning the head, stimulating the energy points on the feet. If I recall, probably a visualization of positive energy intake on the inhale and blockage release on the exhale. I would also add, that this qigong was practiced by cancer patients, and they would do this qigong, as much as six hrs a day. My sense is, that the smile, the visualization, the youthful vigorous manor, the bubbling spring point stimulation, etc etc, all are part of the deal. I would add, that we know the mind moves energy , so over emphasizing any physical piece/movement is not necessarily the way to disect and compose a better qigong for yourself.
I have also seen this breathing in martial qigong, again, to pack in oxygen.
Both other methods that I've seen a double inhale used, are not as ,,, I don't know how to say,,,,expansive?? quiet/empty/emptiness... They are more vigorous, very body focused. I don't equate that state to SFQ style qigong. The SFQ active exercises promote emptiness, as they are so expansive and quiet. In this more quiet state, I would add feeling state too, you can still focus on oxygen intake. A long expansive inhale, holding the upper breath a bit, still can infuse the lungs with plenty of oxygen. Awareness of really filling the lungs helps with this detail, if you like. Master Lin has also suggested exercise outside, relative to being by trees, perhaps pine?? for more oxygen(maybe someone else can clarify that). I find that, relative to oxygen, very helpful and useful. It gets you in relation to nature, not just within an exercise. I would add that air, is a basic element/elemental to engage with, communicate with, signals... what you breath in, the potential signals you can support in infusing and releasing/exhaling.
In straight forward medical qigong, the lungs are more or less completely filled to capacity, and completely emptied. A complete exchange of air. A sense of filling the lungs is good, and breathing out old stagnate air is good. Again, you can breath in SFQ, increase oxygen intake, tweek breathing to be very complete and vital, I believe, without the two inhales one exhale. I have nothing against that method, I use it in a martial qigong I still visit, but I don't see it as an ingredient missing in SFQ. As Shawn always mentions, there are more than one way to cook a potato.
In general, it is a mistake to put to much importance on a physical movement or breathing method. I consider emptiness a higher level to achieve, and the only methods I've seen utilizing this double intake of air are more vigorous physical gestures that don't really promote emptiness or feeling qi for that matter. There is good in that vigorous and oxygen intake, I'm not knocking it. My point is more that there is adequate breathing method in SFQ, and Master Lin has composed/composes a qigong relative to what he considers best. I don't consider him unaware of other qigong methods/specifics. You can't have every qigong technique out there in one qigong. Qigong systems have general qualities to their practices. Sometimes mixing in another method can mess with the general quality of the qigong.
For SFQ, again, I see it as a very soft, relaxing, expansive, opening up approach to the active exercise. Very feeling, and condusive to meditative or emptiness. Vigorous breathing, walking, gesturing, the pace of walking, are more a projected energy of sorts, or imposed physical gesture, versus feeling and openess, receptiveness. I'm just talking/thinking outloud. Just some things to throw in the conversation.
The visualization is how the mind moves the energy. That is key.
With that, you add in the smile, a sense of youthfulness. That is also key. I would say that reverse breathing is more the breathing method to focus on in SFQ, and within that, take deep elongated breaths, fill the lungs. You can heighten that oxygenation aspect, complete inhale, and still cultivate stillness or emptiness.
love,
gallen

Hello Gallen,

You seem to be quite knowledgeable about SFQ so I thought I wouuld address my question to you. I`ve started practicing SFQ and I find it really awkward to do reverse breathing. I feel that the natural/normal thing to do is to expand the belly when inhaling, and contracting when exhaling. Do we have to ALWAYS do reverse breathing through all the active exercises and meditations?

Do you know why we do reverse breathing at all? What are the benefits as opposed to "normal" breathing?

Thanks a lot!
John

Hi John,
Most people find reverse breathing different than what they are used to doing. It is also very common for people to require a bit of time to realize it comfortably, or feel like they are doing it correctly.
You don't 'have' to use reverse breathing. It is recommended. I do it all the time I am conscious of breath/breathing. When it is uncomfortable or odd to someone to the point it hinders their relaxation, it is sometimes good to just let go of the focus on breathing and focus on relaxing and emptiness. Whatever gives you a sense of both working to improve suggested alignments/method, or employing them, but also not to the degree you that you limit your ability to relax. I would suggest some of each, if reverse breathing is not comfortable to you yet.
Perhaps focus some attention on it in your session, then let go and focus on relaxing, or the smile, or the visualizations given relative to the exercise/meditation.
Reverse breathing comes from Taoist method. Taoists were into longevity, and reverse breathing promotes that. That is the simplest way to express the primary benefit without getting off into lots of specifics that aren't necessary to know, to receive the benefits of reverse breathing. Any specifics can be gradually learned if you do some side study, but it is better in general not to base your practice in the academic specifics of qigong method. Immerse in the experience of your practice, and if further interested, then go to the books or online to learn more about reverse breathing, or five element theory, etc..
Trust Master Lin's lead in how you employ it in your practice. There is contradictory information out there regarding the extent to use it in your practice.
One tip I would suggest, is to focus on really filling up the lungs/upper lungs, when you inhale. Take your time and relax as you do it. Filling the lungs completely, helps counter any sense of contraction or restriction stemming how you hold in the abdomen on the inhale.
love,
gallen