Articles by

Shoshanna Katzman, M.S., C.A., Dipl. Ac. & CH

Meditating and breathing into a place two inches below your umbilicus is called Dan Tien breathing. It is believed in Chinese Medicine that all of our healing emanates from the Dan Tien. It is therefore important to breathe into this area throughout the day and especially concentrate on it during a healing session.

As an acupuncturist and Tai Chi/Qigong teacher, I share this practice with my patients and students to help them obtain and maintain a healthy body, mind, and spirit. It is a simple, yet profound, breathing exercise that helps you center and heal yourself, maintain personal power, relieve stress, and increase breathing capacity.

As you stand or lay down, think about your Dan Tien by concentrating your mind’s eye on this special place two inches below your navel. You may keep your eyes totally or partially closed during the meditation. I often suggest that people think of their lungs being down in their belly to help them breathe into this area more easily.

Take a gentle, full inhalation in through your nose and blow your belly up as if it is a big balloon. Next, gently exhale through your nose as if you are deflating this balloon. This breathing technique can be practiced 15 minutes per day. Be sure to breathe slowly and gently to avoid hyperventilating. I ask patients to begin each acupuncture session with three deep breaths to set the stage for a healing, peaceful treatment.

Remember to breathe in through your nose and out through your nose with your mouth closed so the hairs in your nose filter the air. Breathe in and out gently just like a baby breathes. Next time you are with a baby, notice how they naturally breathe from their belly! It must be the years of stress and being told to “hold out our chest and suck our belly in tight” that is responsible for unnatural ways of breathing. Years of a tight belly, deprived of energy flow can have an adverse effect on breathing or digestion.