Tai Chi - The Superbreath

TAI CHI expert Angus Clark introduces The Superbreath - a simple breathing exercise that can make all the difference to your life

HOW do you feel today? Right now, as you read this? Do you feel happy, relaxed and alive with your life energy flowing nicely? Or are you feeling 'blocked' in your energy - tired, anxious or pent-up?

Well, I guess we can all relate to all of these feelings - the 'good' ones and the 'bad' ones. But I've found that movement can really help both long and short-term in promoting the 'goodies'.

Have you enjoyed 'quality' movement today (let's say, something that refreshes, relaxes and restores you)? And what kind of exercise have you taken?

If you think about it for a minute you'll realise there is a direct association between movement and life - no movement, no life. Breath moves in and out, planets fly, the cosmos whirls, hearts beat, sunlight radiates in waves and subatomic particles dance.

The seasons change, a baby is born, a person dies. Life moves.

The Power of Movement
As unborn babies, and through to early childhood, movement plays an enormous role in our well-being, learning and self-development. For most of us, it's all too easy to stop this natural process by getting lost in the serious busy-ness of adult life. And yet movement is something that could continue to help us for as long as we live. Movement is magic and it's full of possibilities.

The ancient Indian and Chinese systems of yoga and tai chi have evolved for this very thing - to help us circulate a good balance of energy throughout our lives. But it's all too easy to associate awe and wonder, magic and miracles with distant mythical, mystical ideas like the ancient yogis of India and Taoist sages of China. Lost deep in the mists of time - a conveniently long way away in terms of time and geography.

We might take up one of these 'foreign' arts and it's easy to fantasise - "perhaps one day, if I practise hard enough, I'll feel The Chi". But hey, reader, don't go there! Wake up and feel the life-force! Because it's here, with you, right now.

Real magic - get yours now!
If you do the "Super-Breath" exercise (see below), you'll breathe in deeply and lift your arms up at the same time.

This recirculates the lymph, pulling it up through the nodes - which is very good news. Your lymph cleans your blood, and this keeps you healthy, makes you feel better and strengthens your immune system. Now how magic is that? Or let's say, if that's not magic, then what is?
The Chinese call it 'chi', the yogis will talk of 'prana'. You? Well, you can call it what you like, but you've oxygenated your blood, stabilised your pulse rate, re-circulated your lymph and you feel better. You feel better!

You didn't have to travel anywhere and it only took you three minutes. You've got yourself a movement practice.

Motion, emotion and 'Moving On'
You may notice that the emotional impact of movement is entirely inter-twined with the physical. The refreshing and uplifting effects of something like the 'super-breath' exercise may help you to get something done that you've been putting off, or create a sense of balance and perspective in a difficult situation. You feel different, you behave differently. In this way movement can 'move you on' in your life.

Motion means movement. 'E'motion is the movement of a feeling. So don't worry if, after a movement session, you feel sad or agitated. It's completely normal and natural. Rather than thinking, "That exercise has made me feel worse than before I started", just see it as the motion of the exercise having helped to bring motion to a feeling.

You have moved. An emotion is simply being released. We don't have to get heavy about it. Give it space, let it happen. Keep the energy flowing by communicating - writing or talk to people - and you'll begin to feel lighter, clearer and freer. And again you're likely to feel like you're 'moving on' in your life.

Super-Breath!
Springclean your system and blast out the stagnations of winter with this fantastic energiser. Stand on your doorstep, by an open window or go into your garden or walk to the local park every morning first thing for the next week - see how it makes you feel.

If you notice your energy stagnating, at any time in the day, or if you've been sitting at your computer too long, do it again; or if you want a good night's sleep, do it before going to bed.

1. Stand comfortably, and lifting your arms above your head, breathe in deep to fill your lungs. Let your breath out through your mouth, like a balloon emptying and bring your arms down. Repeat twice more.

2. Next, take three ordinary breaths.

3. Simply repeat the whole pattern again - three 'super-breaths' followed by three ordinary ones - twice more and you're done. Should take about three or four minutes. And you've got yourself a movement practice!

And as you're making the moves, imagine all that fabulous cleaning, clearing and re-energising that's going on in your body.



WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Angus is founder of the School of Living Movement, which now runs classes, courses, holiday retreats, training and workshops (Exeter April 26 & 27) to a wide variety of people on a local, national and international basis. Weekly Move For Your Life and Tai Chi classes are on offer in Exeter, Okehampton and Chagford areas. Corporate, specialist group coaching and one-to-one tuition are arrangeable by appointment.

Angus is author of The Complete Illustrated Guide to Tai Chi, Tai Chi in A Box, Illustrated Elements of Tai Chi, and Secrets of Qigong. Call Angus on 1647231477, or email angus@livingmovement.com. Website: www.livingmovement.com