Massage Therapist Self Care Program
Ki Breathing Techniques

Massage Therapist Self Care - Ki Breathing Techniques are Essential to improve your attentive capacity.

Give them a try and see how they improve your massage therapist self care program ... And YOUR Life!

Share your experiences, questions or concerns regarding Ki Breathing and Ki Meditation at Ki Breathing Meditation. Feel free to share any breathing or meditation you perform as well!

For additional information please see Massage Therapist Self Care and learn more about our Ki Meditation practice!

Exhale gradually, with purpose and control.

Exhale with a distinct, but barely audible sound.

At the end of the breath, Ki continues infinitely like a fading note.

Inhale from the tip of the nose until the body is saturated with breath.

After inhaling, calm the mind infinitely at the One Point.

Breath is the key to life. This statement contains truth far beyond the obvious physical reality discussed above. Breathing can control the autonomic nervous system, the system that is responsible for enervating cardiac muscles and glandular tissues as well as governing our so-called "involuntary actions".

Next time you become emotionally disturbed, pause to observe your breathing. You will find that, like your agitated emotional state, your breathing has also become shortened and erratic. When we see someone undergoing some difficulty, don't we always say, "Slow down, take a deep breath, and begin again?"

Conversely, if, when we sense a moment of some emotional challenge coming, we are able to calmly continue to breathe deeply and easily, our autonomic nervous system will mirror this calmness, and those related systems within our bodies will be spared the damage of the avoided stress, not to mention avoiding perhaps some regrettably damaging, words or actions.

"Control yourself, before attempting to control others," begins with controlling your own breath, and being able to control your breath only comes through hours, days, weeks, months, years of practice. So, as Suzuki Sensei often says, "Breathe, Breathe, Breathe!"

• Controlled Breathing or Whole Body Breathing

Sitting in an upright position, with the spine straight, close your eyes gently, take in a full breath of air, open your mouth wide, placing your tongue behind your lower front teeth, and silently making the sound of "Ha," calmly begin to exhale. For the beginner, this exhalation may be as short as ten seconds, but little by little, as you become more relaxed and calm, you will be able to exhale for 20 to 30 seconds at a time.

While this exhalation is taking place, try imagining that your body is a hollow vessel, and is, ever so slowly being emptied, as with a straw, from the top of your head, to the tips of your toes.

After all of your breath has been exhaled gently and calmly, incline your upper body very slightly forward. You will find that a last small amount of breath will be expelled. (Note: Never attempt to push the breath out, but simply allow the natural action of the breathing to complete itself).

Still in the slightly forward leaning position, close your mouth, and very gently begin allowing the inhalation to be in. Imagine that the new breath enters on a path up the bridge of the nose, between your eyes, down your spine, and begins to fill your now empty vessel of a body from the tips of your toes to the top of your head.

This inhalation process may be shorter in at first, but with experience, a slow, calm inhalation should take from 20 to 30 seconds. When you feel that your lungs are filled to capacity, allow your upper body to return to its former upright position. This last slight movement, will allow the lungs to take in an additional small amount of air. Then begin this process over again, with another exhalation.

Controlled, Whole Body and Retention Breathing are excellent for early morning meditation and breathing techniques for your massage therapist self care program.

• Retention Breathing

It is one thing to be able to remain calm, with mind and body coordinated when sitting still, but quite another when in motion. One of Tohei Sensei's favorite ways of testing this, is as follows: Sit calmly in seiza position. Inhale and exhale one complete cycle. Then inhale completely. Stand and walk forward for about 15 paces while holding the breath. Sit calmly and carefully in seiza position, and begin slowly to exhale. If you have been able to maintain calmness and mind/body coordination during this movement, then your exhalation will be very even and quiet. If, as you exhale, your breath is quick and rough, then you have not succeeded. You must practice Controlled Breathing more!

• Cadence Breathing

Cadence Breathing is performed while walking. If you are going on a long hike, or find yourself climbing a long set of stairs or incline, practice this exercise. It's a practical and efficient way to incorporate breathing into your massage therapist self care program.

Simply put, Cadence Breathing is regulating your inhalation and exhalation with your steps, to a count. The amount of steps per inhalation/exhalation is not so important, (it depends somewhat upon the amount of exertion required,) but as the walk progresses, the count should remain constant. Example: Breathe in as you count 1,2,3,4 steps; breathe out as you count 1,2,3,4 steps.

Many people, while they walk, like to chat with another person. This is fine, but not while performing this exercise. You must be quiet, and focus on the coordination of the breathing, the steps, and the count. This way you will find that you can walk much further, and with much less effort, than before.

*Excerpt from "KI AIKIDO ON MAUI" by Christopher Curtis Sensei.

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