Do you ever feel like you need a quick energy boost, but want to avoid caffeine?
In today’s fast-paced world, coffee and other caffeinated drinks are a go-to solution for many. While they can offer a temporary pick-me-up, they often come with a crash, jitters, or restlessness.
Fortunately, there’s a natural and effective alternative: breathwork. Unlike caffeine, breathwork can boost your energy while simultaneously calming your mind and relaxing your body.
In this blog, you’ll learn a five-minute breathwork practice designed to enhance your energy levels while promoting a deep sense of calm. But first, let’s explore how breathwork works.
In Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, your breath is the most immediate source of energy for your body. You can go weeks without eating and days without drinking water, but you can only go a few minutes without breathing.
Additionally, unlike many other processes in your body, it’s easy for you to control your breath. At any moment, you can decide if you want to breathe deeper, shallower, faster, or slower.
Compare this to one of the other processes in your body such as your digestion or heartbeat. When was the last time you consciously sped up or slowed down your digestion?
Because your breath is a direct pathway to working with your energy and is within your conscious control, breathwork is a powerful tool for influencing your Qi. This allows you to work with your breath to increase your energy levels, calm your mind, and more. To discover more nourishing benefits of breathwork, be sure to check out one of our previous blogs on the benefits of breathwork.
In the following breathwork practice, you’ll learn how to use the power of your breath to boost your energy and calm your mind. We’ve provided this practice in both a video as well as written form.
To begin this practice, stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and place your hands over your lower abdomen.
In Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, your lower abdomen is referred to as your Lower Tan Tien. Your Lower Tan Tien is full of vital, life-force energy.
With your hands over your Lower Tan Tien, take slow, deep breaths into your lower abdomen. On your inhale, feel your belly move outward as you bring air into your body. On your exhale, feel your belly fall inward as you release air from your lungs.
As you breathe, try to let go of any thoughts that pop up in your mind. Try to focus your mind on your breath and let go of any stress or tension held in your body.
Breathing into your Lower Tan Tien helps you cultivate a feeling of being centered and grounded. These qualities help you feel more energized and relaxed at the same time.
Continue breathing and notice the energy within your Lower Tan Tien become activated and flowing. You may notice sensations in other parts of your body as your Qi moves and circulates.
With each breath, feel your energy become more alive while your mind relaxes and releases stress. Continue breathing deeply into your Lower Tan Tien for a few minutes with your hands placed gently over that part of your body.
When you’re ready to move on, make light loose fists with your hands and tap lightly right below your navel. This part of your body is also referred to as the Sea of Qi because it holds an abundance of life-force energy.
As you tap, feel your energy become activated and enlivened. Continue breathing deeply and notice any sensations you feel within your lower abdomen.
While tapping, move your hands around your abdomen area so you activate the Qi in all parts of your Lower Tan Tien.
Notice energy flowing from your Lower Tan Tien to all of the other parts of your body. If you continue tapping for a minute or two, you’ll feel your internal energy become centered and uplifted.
When you’re ready, bring your hands back to your Lower Tan Tien and take a few more deep breaths. Then, release your hands to your side and take that feeling of relaxation and aliveness with you into the rest of your day.
If you’re interested in learning more breathwork practices to boost your energy and calm your mind, be sure to check out The Breathwork Online Course.
If you’d like to explore even more breathwork techniques to enhance your energy, release stress, and improve overall well-being, check out The Breathwork Online Course.
This in-depth online experience, led by Master Qi Gong Teacher Lee Holden, will guide you through a variety of powerful breathwork practices. The course blends lecture-style learning with hands-on exercises, allowing you to tap into the full potential of your breath from the comfort of your home.
Click the banner below to learn more and start harnessing the power of breathwork today!
