Focused breathwork is a powerful way of releasing excessive feelings of anger, fear, irritation and negativity.  Zen Buddhism suggests the rhythmic movement of breath as a practical solution to letting go of harmful feelings. A daily practice creates deep relaxation and well-being, as well as minimising misplaced feelings and stress.

Deep belly breathing into the world and back

  1. Stand, sit or lie down and generously relax, let everything flop and expand yourself downwards and sideways, fill out the space around you.
  2. Switch off and listen to your breath for a few seconds. Notice whether you are breathing from your chest or your belly. Place your hand on your belly and slowly you will notice your breath starts to move down into your belly. If not, and you breathe only from your chest give it some time and it will move to the deeper position of your belly.
  3. Deep in the belly there is a store of heat you can connect to with deep breathing. See if you can visualize the heat amplifying and spreading through your body. Feel the heat as a blanket of peacefulness that calms and relaxes your nerves. Keep expanding the circumference of this heat.
  4. The longer you breathe the bigger the range you will reach until your intention extends past the boundaries of your body and out into the environment around you to other people. Then visualize breathing your good intentions back into your body realising that what you put into the world is also there for you to benefit from.

Four strengthening techniques

These four breathing techniques are a profound tool for purifying and revitalizing the body.  Note that if the breath is shallow, the body’s vital systems will function at a minimum level. Conscious breathing can enhance vital energy.

Long deep breathing is the most basic technique for balancing the energy pathways in the body.  Inhale deeply into the abdomen, the diaphragm, and then into the chest. Hold the breath for a few seconds and then exhale slowly making the out-breath longer than the in-breath. Concentrate on breathing smoothly, gradually and deeply.

Hara breathing nourishes the internal organs increasing endurance and power. The Hara is a vital energy centre situated four centimetres below the navel. Focus on this point and breathe deeply into the abdomen expanding your belly. Exhale, drawing the belly in and allowing energy to circulate through the body. Repeat as many times as you want.

Breath visualisation taps the infinite creativity of the mind by focusing on certain parts of the body. Expand the potential for self-directed actualisation using breathing and you will find potent healing. Visualisation uses the power of the imagination to unblock blockages in the body, increasing new awareness and attitude and circulates essential energy or ‘chi’ through the body.

Close your eyes and focus on a specific part of your body. Imagine that the breath is a healing substance penetrating this area with each inhalation. With each exhalation spread the healing breath throughout the body.

Breath of fire strengthens the nervous system, cleanses the blood and expands the electro-magnetic field around the body. Using short, rapid breathing through the nose, pump the breath out by contracting the abdomen. This technique gives the body an immediate burst of energy. Do this in rounds of 1 minute. Repeat 5 times or more.

Heightened long-term negative emotions have harmful effects on health yet a surprising number of people feel intense anger on a daily basis. Expressing heavy energies appropriately, and letting them go results in love-based action rather than self-interest. In this way, collective energetic vibration is raised and the likelihood of a collective spiritual evolution is heightened.