How?

We may have forgotten that all Eastern body work (yoga, Tai Qi, Qi Gong) is based on breath.

1 – Observe your self. Lying on a flat surface – observe your own breathing cycle. Likely you will notice it ‘catches’. Over the decades, I have noticed a pattern. My observation is that most women tend to avoid breathing into their belly/wombspace. Men – their chests/heart space. What does this mean? We hold emotions and experiences there. To be left alone – this can severely get in the way of feeling and of flowing – and we need to do both. in the pursuit of balance – how to? Be aware to begin with. It is likely that there are blockages that hold real life and will need gentling away, transforming at a pace with grace you can handle. Please remember that . . . you are encoded to be here and to take space and to breathe. You have aright to be here. What may be blocking you is yours to let go. Or hold onto.

2 – Align. Standing on two feet with flat shoes, barefoot, shoulder width apart, pointing straight ahead, unlock your knees and slightly bounce. Tuck your tailbone in, and feel the change in posture. Lengthen the muscle above your navel. Breathing in – feel the alignment already, The next step is imagine that you are an angel – and your wings attached at the back, are lifting upwards – the chest expands – upright -more air in. Breathe and feel the difference. Is there obstruction? We will alter this – back to the chest gouge.

3 – Rest your hands gently on your belly. Allow your hands to rise and fall with the breath. Women usually find this tricky – so – imagine yourself looking pregnant. So keen for the flat stomach. The men may have the same issue breathing into their chests. Emotions are STUCK there!

STUCK?

To get you aware to start with, is the key. We are Gentling. You will unload what is stuck in due course.

4 – Undo some of that STUCK. The diaphragm is a band of Ligaments/muscles. To release this – we can use the parts of the Soothing course – an in advance and some of my Foundational Moves. The link between breath and emotions has been understood for thousands of years. Now we have an idea how it works. When stress hormones are high, we breathe higher in the chest and less in the belly. This further increases stress hormone levels. But we have CONSCIOUS control of our breathing as well. By controlling our breath, stress hormones drop. Thus major ’cause’ of disease in East Asian Medicine – is ’emotional’ – and these are held in the tissues – till we let the resultant STUCK free. Myriad ways. . . Let It Go is the key . . . DO listen – feel your heart energy opening . .

Easiest is to reach behind to the bra strap area and grabbing a hunk of skin – move it side to side – over the spine. Take a deep breath – and feel it expanding. Gradually go down your spine grabbing another chunk of skin. Observe it will likely start to feel very stuck – that needs more work. Maybe pound it a bit with your fists. Breathe in again. Side to side movements – small – but releasing.
Now come to the front. Lymph moves from the Soothing course are gently running with your finger pads – not tips – from the centre underneath your ribs – from the middle – and towards the sides. Slowly, and shallow to begin with.

Next the sides of your ribs – this is more awkward. It can be done. Starting at the bottom – the flank gouge releases also the frozen shoulder and stuck breathing – gently and over time. Gouging from front to back – get in between the rib spaces. Feel the depth of breathe change

5 – You will need to tend your body. Much work has been done, More water, more magnesium (topical application not oral – as it relaxes muscles and calms all parts of your body/mind), more encouragement that you are actually SAFE to be in this body . .