Breath of Tai Chi

Breathing while practicing Tai Chi is by far the most confusing aspect for everyone who is trying to understand the rhythm of breath. For example, when to inhale and when to exhale during the movements of the form. I, like everyone, became confused and found it detrimental to my training. Instead of working on the flow of postures and following the principal of connecting each movement together as a fine strand of an unbroken silk thread, I would focus on inhaling and exhaling. During my first three years of learning Tai Chi, I discovered the way of the breath, realising that like Tai Chi, it becomes a lifetime piece of work. Now and after 43 years of practicing and teaching Tai Chi, I have peacefully coexisted with my breath. And this is what I Teach and the journey I walk to unravel this mystery.

At the beginning of learning Tai Chi we should accept that this period of training is to build a solid foundation, by following the basic principles such as correct posture, understanding the three centres of energy, which are the lower, middle and upper Tan Tien’s. The lower Tan Tien is where our primary focus should be. The lower Tai Tien lay just below the navel and sits in the centre of the body. It cannot be seen, even if you open up the body. However, if you have ever suffered a hernia, then you will know how restricted and painful movement becomes once our core muscle has become interfered with. Child birth also impacts the lower Tan Tien. I cannot speak about giving birth, as I will never experience this. However, the closest I have come to this is having sympathetic labour pains when our son was born. What I understand is that during pregnancy, the three Tan Tiens harmonise with the unborn child and are constantly engaging and assisting in the development of the babies’ own three Tan Tien’s.

During the building of the foundation work on the forms, we should place no attention on breathing. This is because we will be busy improving our health, learning to move slowly and allowing our breath to naturally become aligned with our movement. By not interfering with this process, our minds will become more relaxed and then we can apply one of the major principals of Tai Chi, which is to sink the mind into the lower Tan Tien. All movement of the body comes from the lower Tan Tien, therefore by sinking and bending the knees the waist becomes more agile. We should turn our waist with every movement we make, as the hands and feet must follow the waist. After a while, our breathing becomes calm, not forced but, similar to the breath of a baby without thought or intention. 

When we pull energy towards our self such as when we pull our hands inwards before we execute the double push, our Tan Tien contracts and inhalation naturally takes place. When we push out wards the Tan Tien expands and exhales. This is naturally aligning the breath. If we interfere with this process, then we can become confused. If we apply the sinking and turning of the waist, this pattern of breathing will just happen. At the beginning of learning our Tai Chi, we are taught to place the tip of the tongue up behind the front teeth and onto the roof of the mouth and to keep it there throughout practicing the form. We should inhale and exhale through the nose, keeping the mouth relaxed with the lips gently touching. In some schools of Tai Chi, they teach to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. The bottom line is that a student must breathe in a way that suits them, and to take into consideration their physical condition, so we can say that both ways are correct.

When we have attained a reasonable understanding of Tai Chi and have completed the short and long forms, we can then progress to beginning to learn the mastering of breathing when practicing Tai Chi. Immediately, I can hear you thinking that we are finally going to learn when to inhale and exhale with each posture. No, is the answer to this as you will only end up becoming hyperventilated and confused. We must return to our basic understanding of when we pull in, inhale and contract the lower Tan Tien. When we push or move outward, we should exhale. To learn this correctly, allow me to introduce or remind you of this set of Qigong exercises called Heng and Ha.

Double push

Releasing the breath of the Tan Tien by sounding aloud the word ‘Ha’

Drawing by Master Vasilios © 2021

This set of 14 exercises put together become a form without moving the feet. Each exercise is opening the body by becoming expansive and closing the body, which is contracting. Most of the movements are to do with the arms and hands. When we contract, we sound out aloud the word ‘Heng’ and pull in the lower Tan Tien. We then release the breath by exhaling and allowing the Tan Tien to push forward by sounding out aloud the word ‘Ha’. There are many stories connected to these teachings and were at one time a closely guarded secret of the masters. Sadly, and like all ancient teachings, they have slowly become lost or diluted. If you are fortunate enough, wherever you are in the world, to find a teacher to teach you this set of Tan Tien breathing exercises, then I will say take up the opportunity. Once you have mastered the Heng and Ha form, your Tai Chi will go onto another level and you realise that every aspect of your Tai Chi, including pushing hands, Tao Lou and your relaxation, will have evolved.

Instead of my writing a very long article on how to perform the Heng and Ha form, I will place a video tutorial on the website as a training aid to your Tai Chi.

Love and blessings to you all. Vasilios Firippis

© 2021 All Rights reserved Vasilios Firippis