10. Regulation of the Breath

Video Transcript: "Regulation of the breath" refers to the exercise of respiration and conducting qi. It has three very important roles. First, it can promote reaching the quiescent state in mind and physical relaxation. Second, it can achieve the effects of massaging the internal organs of the body. Third, it is the only available entrance to control the autonomic nervous system because only the respiratory system is under dual controls of voluntary and involuntary neural domination. Through changing the rhythms and depths of breath, one's intention can eventually influence the tones of autonomic nervous system at certain extent, such as raising skin temperature or reducing blood pressure, that have positive therapeutic effects on many internal disorders. The breathing regulation methods commonly used are the natural respiration, orthodromic abdominal respiration, counter-abdominal respiration, pausing-closing respiration, as well as the nose-inhaling and mouth-exhaling methods, etc.

 

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