This 3 PART series on “How to Practice the Two Wheels of Breathing.” is a summary of various breathing techniques taught by Dr. Sang H. Kim during the MBX-12 Spring Workshop. Read Part 1, Part 2.

Reverse Wheel Breathing Method

Reverse Wheel Breathing works in the opposite way of Forward Wheel Breathing:

– Reverse Wheel Breathing helps you experience conscious sensation of the flow of the inner energy turning into unconscious awareness of the presence of a force that holds everything together in you.

During in-breath your consciousness (or imaginary mental energy) rises from the tailbone area (1 in the Reverse Wheel Breathing diagram), traveling vertically (2) through the back of the head arriving in the middle of the eyes (3), also known as the third eye. During out-breath your consciousness flows downward through the solar plexus (4) to the lower belly (5), finally returning to the sacrum region in the tail bone (1).

Just like the rear two wheels push a car forward, Reverse Wheel Breathing drives the inner energy upward in the back and forward in the front.

Your sensation during the practice of Reverse Wheel Breathing involves a feeling of rising inner energy in the rear along the spinal cord during inhalation. As the sensation arrives at the top of the head, it gently flows down along the center of the forehead. As you exhale, the energy sinks deeply to the inside of the lower belly.

As you inhale your belly expands and the diaphragm sinks; as you exhale your belly muscles contract and the diaphragm rises.

More precisely, when you inhale, the lower energy center, located in the middle of the the lower belly at 2 inches below from the naval, relaxes and is filled with fresh energy, and in no time the energy rises with the guidance of your conscious intent upward along the spinal cord (2 in the diagram, also called the Governing Meridian). When you exhale, the flow of energy begins to move downward along the middle line front line in the torso (4 in the diagram, also called the Conception Meridian).

– Reverse Wheel Breathing allows the inner energy to rise backward during inhalation and to sink forward during exhalation. When the inner energy rises upward to the third eye between the eyes, your consciousness heightens.

As you progress, you will experience the conscious sensation of the flow of the inner energy turning into unconscious awareness of the presence of a force that holds everything together.

Exercise with MBX-3: Infinity Posture

With any MBX-12 movement, you can practice Reverse Wheel Breathing Method: During in-breath your consciousness rises from the sacrum, arriving in the middle of the eyes; during out-breath let go of your consciousness downward to the lower energy center.

1. From natural stance, point your heels outward and bend your knees. Place your open hands in front of your belly with palms facing upward. Exhale.

2. Inhaling, raise your hands above your head with your fingers wide open. At this time be aware of your consciousness rising from the tailbone area, traveling vertically through the back of the head arriving in the middle of the eyes.

Pause and hold your breath for 3 seconds (actually you do not literally hold your breath, rather you gently reduce the amount of inhalation for smooth transition of the breath tide from inhalation to exhalation).

3. Exhaling slowly, bend your knees slightly. At this time be aware of your consciousness flowing downward to the lower energy center in the belly.

Pause and hold your breath for 3 seconds (actually you do not literally hold your breath, rather you gently reduce the amount of exhalation for smooth transition of the breath tide from exhalation to inhalation).

4. Repeat the Reverse Wheel Breathing 5-10 times in the same posture.

Excerpted from books: Mindful Movement: Mastering Your Hidden Energy, Power Breathing: Breathe Your Way to Inner Power, Stress Reduction, Performance Enhancement, Optimum Health & Fitness