The Art of Breathing-Thirty Simple Exercises for Improving Your Performance and Well-being

This exciting book invites you to learn how to convert your breath into energy. It will show how you can acquire a greater sense of power and balance, and sharpen your mental and physical coordination. Thirty progressive exercises, specific applications of what you have learned, and mental imagery

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drills teach you the chi yi method of controlled breathing. As you develop breath awareness, you will find the principles of disciplined breathing moving effortlessly into your daily acitivites. The results can forever enhance your life.

Many rewards will be yours, in all areas of your daily life, by cultivating the power of chi yi-mental and physical health, energy level, personality, voice, coordination, athletic potential, and more. You will discover how to:

Apply chi yi to virtually any endeavor-athletics, theater, yoga, meditation, and more.
Become more effective and dynamic, learning renewed self-control and assurance to help you excel in your endeavors and attain your goals.
Reduce stress and promote relaxation, as well as combat insomnia and other physical discomforts.
Find a common center for your mental and pysical movements to produce an aura of poise, grace, and ease.
Look feel, and be healthier, and bounce back more quickly from illness.
Gain increased stamina, conditioning, rediance, and general well-being.

Contents

Introduction-A singer's discoveries
Part One The promise of chi yi
Chi yi: An art for today
The core
Introducing the imagery drills
The benefits of chi yi
Building confidence and enhancing personal presence
Increasing stamina, zest, and coordination
Improving the complexion
Freshening the breath
Preparing for childbirth
Relieving aches, pians, and discomforts
Hastening convalescence
Minimizing he effects of aging
Imroving speech and voice
Focusing the breath in meditation
Part Two Exercises for practicing chi yi
Some suggestions for practice
Counting
Posture
Developing internal sensations and muscular controls
Internal sensations
Muscular controls
Lesson One Leading the breath
Exercises
1 Stretching the abdominal muscles
2 Stretching the lower back muscles
3 Stretching the muscles at the base of the torso
4 Stretching the lower front and back torso
Thoughts on lesson 1
Lesson Two Coordinating the breath
Exercises
5 Releasing tongue tension
6 Releasing tension at the root of the tongue
7 Activating the tongue muscles
8 Control of the tip and root of the tongue
9 Further control of the tongue
10 Spreading the breath to the base of the torso
11 Stretching and expanding the side muscles of the lower torso
Thoughts on lesson 2
Lesson Three Controlling the breath
Exercises
12 Directing the breath to the lower abdomen
13 Directing the breath to the lower back
14 Relieving neck tension
15 Relieving shoulder tension
16 Stretching the chest muscles
17 Leading the breath to the core
Thoughts on Lesson 3
Lesson Four Varying and extending the breath
Exercises
18 Flexing the muscles of the lower sides and back
19 Flexing the lower abdominal muscles
20 Flexing the lower back muscles
21 Developing agility of the abdominal and lower back muscles
22 Expanding the base of the torso
Thoughts on Lesson 4
Lesson Five Using the breath to develop the core
Exercises
23 Further expanding the lower circumference
24 Developing core sensation
25 Expanding and stabilizing the breath at the core
26 Intensifying core sensation
Thoughts on the first five lessons
Lesson Six Applying the breath
Exercises
27 Strengthening the abdominal muscles
28 Strengthening the lwoer back muscles
29 Strengthening the core
30 Jogging in place with chi yi
Thoughts on Lesson 6
Part Three Applications of chi yi
Using the core energy
Suggestions for practicing the applications
Applications
1 Promoting relaxation
2 Waking up alert: The good morning regimen
3 Motivating movement from the core
4 developing athletic prowess
5 Sustaining personal presence
6 Working through pain
7 Relieving discomfort in the fingers, hands, and arms
8 Conditioning the legs and arms
9 Creating a dynamic image
10 Combatting insomnia
11 Relieving gas pains in the stomach
12 Relieving congested nasal passages or sinuses
13 Relieving motion sickness
14 Improving speech and singing (vowel production)
Simplified vowel exrcise
Afterword
About the author
List of imagery drills
Eyedropper
Accordion
Funnel-balloon
Tumbing pebble
String of beads
Cannonball
Elastic band
Kite
Coil of rope
Book stacking
Facial glow
Cream
Steam funnel
Sink and drain
Drinking straw
Red light bul

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