08/11/2025
Qi Gong - Wheel Breathing Methods.
There are many breathing methods and techniques. Normally we rely on chest breathing, expanding our chest as we inhale.
Today we discuss about Wheel Breathing Methods. There are two types of Wheel Breathing: Forward Wheel Breathing and Reverse Wheel Breathing. The Forward Wheel Breathing includes two sub-types: Belly Breathing and Meridian Breathing.
๐ Forward Wheel Breathing Methods
Forward Wheel Breathing Method, also called pulling wheel method, is a way of breathing to drive the energy toward the lower energy center in the belly by allowing the energy to flow downward in the front of the torso.
Examples are Belly Breathing and Meridian Breathing: during in-breath your belly swells and the energy flows down along the frontal center of your torso, and during out-breath your belly contracts and the energy flows upward along the spinal cord in the back.
Just like the front wheels pull a car forward, Forward Wheel Breathing drives your inner energy down toward the lower energy center.
These two methods are good for increasing your energy levels, helping you feel stronger and more centered.
Both methods focus on driving your energy downward to the Danjun or Dantien, the lower energy center, which is located approximately 2 inches below the naval.
โฏ๏ธ Belly Breathing Method
With Belly Breathing, you expand your lower belly for inhalation and contract the abdominal muscles for exhalation.
* See the picture:
Here is how belly breathing works (refer the numbers in the Belly Breathing Diagram):
Inhalation 1. Extend your belly and let the lungs expand. 2. Inhale through your nose. Allow your diaphragm to contract downward as low as possible. This takes 3-5 seconds.
Exhalation 3. At full inhalation, let the extended belly return to the original position slowly. 4. Exhale. Let the diaphragm relax, returning to the normal position. This takes 3-10 seconds.
(Belly Breathing Diagram: during in-breath your belly swells and the energy flows down along the frontal center of your torso, and during out-breath your belly contracts and the energy flows upward along the spinal cord in the back.)
โฏ๏ธ Meridian Breathing Method
Once you have mastered the Belly Breathing technique, you may advance to the Meridian Breathing technique.
This method requires imaginative thinking as you conceive and redistribute energy along three energy channels: the Conception meridian (in the middle of the frontal torso, 1 in the Meridian Breathing Diagram) and Governing meridian (in the middle of the back of the torso, 3 in the Diagram) and the Belt channel (between the two ilium bones in the pelvis, 2 in the Diagram).
As the belly guides the breath, energy (air) enters the nose and travels down to the belly following the Conception Meridian* (1, in the Diagram).
The energy gathers and swirls in the belly region encircled by the Belt channel (2).
By holding your breath and gently condensing the swirling energy, you can build its strength and push it upward along the Governing Meridian** (3).
Meridian Breathing is a way to distribute energy throughout your body. One cycle of meridian breathing connects your inner energy to the energy of the external world. This connection is important because our body is the medium for the reciprocal communications. In that sense, Meridian Breathing is not a goal but a process for mutual exchange of energy.
Meridian Breathing Diagram: One cycle of Meridian Breathing connects your inner energy to the energy of the external world. This connection, our body being the medium for the reciprocal communications, is a process for balancing the inner and outer milieu, conscious or subconscious.
Furthermore, it is the transitory point for our conscious awareness of breath to immerse into the subconscious level.
So sustaining your awareness of being present with your breath, in gradual absence of conscious efforts, is vital for your progress.
As your breath progressively becomes silent, your awareness becomes still.
Eventually a feeling of infinity, that feels like being alone in the midst of empty space yet sitting grounded, fills your heart.
*Conception Meridian begins from the perineum and arises along the front of the torso, ending on the chin. The Conception Meridian connects to all of the Yin meridians (meridians on the inside of the body).
**Governing Meridian runs along the mid-line of the back, ascending to the head and descending to the face. The Governing Meridian connects to all of the Yang meridians (meridians on the outside and back of the body).
* See the picture:
(Meridian Breathing Diagram: One cycle of Meridian Breathing connects your inner energy to the energy of the external world. This connection, our body being the medium for the reciprocal communications, is a process for balancing the inner and outer milieu, conscious or subconscious.)
