Release date: September 3rd, 2014 / Last revised: September 4th, 2014
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Intro Audio
Now that you have a greater understanding of the importance, primary function, and resulting benefits of deep breathing, let’s explore a variety of techniques – in addition to the relaxation technique outlined in part 2 – from which you can begin putting breathwork into practice.
The shallow breather will have oxygen-poor blood and will in time endure the resulting (and health compromising) consequences at the cellular level throughout the body. So, if you’ve always been used to breathing in a shallow fashion, you now have an opportunity to carry out a conscious effort toward changing your breathing patterns.
At minimum, the International Academy of Lymphology recommends exercising some form of deep breathing 3-7 times every hour or 11 times a day, with transition in mind. Should you wish to do it more than that you can, but allow the body to guide you as you go along (i.e. if you begin to feel discomfort, take breaks as necessary).
Below you will find a series of breathing techniques each with their respective audio recording and necessary demonstrations.
Technique #1: Simple Beginner
- Inhale through your nose for one count (tongue against the roof of your mouth).
- Hold for four counts.
- Exhale through your teeth (creating a “SHH” sound) for two counts.
A preferable ratio is one inhale count to two exhale counts (but you can adapt this to your liking as you go along). For example: if you take four counts to breathe in, hold four counts and exhale eight counts. The longer the period of time it takes you to breathe in and out, the better.
Try using the above breathing technique for at least 1 week. You can do it in one of the following ways:
a. Do 5 minutes of continuous deep breathing as instructed in the morning and at night; or
b. Do 10 repetitions of deep breathing as outlined above, 3 times a day.
Technique #2a.: The ‘Walker-West’ Power Breathing Technique
Dr. C. Samuel West learned of this invigorating 2-part technique directly from Dr. Norman W. Walker and eventually coined it the ‘Walker-West-Walk’; children love this technique and often refer to it as ‘The Choo-Choo Train Walk’.
The first part (2a), which everyone can do, involves the breathing technique, while the second part (2b) involves physical movement using the arms and legs.
While sitting upright or standing, the breathing technique is as follows:
- Clench your teeth together. With every inhale, inhale as deeply as you can.
- Once at the peak of inhalation, exhale as completely as you can (as you inhale and exhale, you will make two variations of the “SHHH” sound through your teeth, hence the ‘choo-choo’ train).
You will breathe in the following sequence:
Inhale/exhale, inhale/exhale, inhale/exhale, exhale, exhale (completely empty your lungs with the final exhale)
Repeat this process over and over again.
You may alternate (or extend) with the following sequence:
Inhale, inhale, inhale, inhale, exhale, exhale, exhale, and exhale
Technique #2b.: The ‘Walker-West-Walk’ variation
For the second part of the Walker-West-Walk technique:
Swing your arms and step lively and – once started – add in the first part (2a). I demonstrate the Walker-West-Walk in the following video.
The Magnified Thought-Wave Deep Breathing Techniques
The following two breathing techniques (#3 and #4) are used to magnify the electrical thought-wave. The energy can then be mentally directed into any part of your body that is expressing pain or requires healing, by increasing circulation in and out of the given area.
In 1976, during his 7th year of teaching chemistry, Dr. West saw several scientific films dealing with the electricity produced by the body (cells):
“One of them showed a man paralyzed from the neck down, turning a wheelchair by using the electrical energy coming from his eyes. They wired him up with a shield located on each side of his face. After he pressed a button to make his electric wheelchair go, he would look at the shield to the left, and the wheelchair would turn to the left. He would look at the shield to the right, and the wheelchair would turn to the right. Another film: “The Incredible Machine,” [Arizona University Film Library] showed a man wired up with electrodes going from the brain to an electric train. He could start, stop, slow down, and speed up the train just by thinking about it. They are now able to do this with children. However, in order to make it work, they have to magnify the electrical thought-wave.” ~ Dr. C. Samuel West, D.N., N.D., The Golden Seven Plus One, p. 173
If in pain or dealing with a serious health challenge, either of the following techniques (#3 and #4) should be done at least once every 5 minutes for the first 5 or 6 times, then as often as possible every hour for the remainder of the first day.
Whenever you experience lessening of symptoms, do NOT stop doing the techniques. Should you be able to pull the pain out with any of the breathing techniques, then please continue doing them frequently for at least a week or longer to make sure tissues remain well-oxygenated, are cleaned lymphatically, and can heal. Support this process with the proper diet (or a short fast if needed) and any other self-help techniques and complementary therapies you may choose to incorporate.
Technique #3: Power Breathing with Visualization
NOTE: Prior to doing this technique, please reference an anatomy chart and familiarize yourself with the approximate appearance and locations of your various organs and endocrine glands.
- Clench your teeth and suck as much air through the teeth as you can.
- When you think you’ve sucked in as deep as you can, attempt to suck in 2 or 3 more times to make sure you’ve reached the peak of inhalation, to create the vacuum effect and activate the lymphatic system. Hold the breath during step three.
- Now visualize energy going into your adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, lungs and heart, and – as mentioned earlier – mentally direct the energy [generated] anywhere you’re experiencing pain or that requires healing.
- When time comes to exhale, push the air out through your teeth or tightened lips.
Technique #4: The Deep Breathing Technique (to magnify thought-wave)
NOTE: Prior to doing this technique, please reference an anatomy chart and familiarize yourself with the approximate appearance and locations of your various organs and endocrine glands.
- Through the nose, take a quick deep breath.
- Exhaling through the mouth: blow the breath out quickly.
- As outlined above, breathe in and out 3 times, holding the 3rd breath for 5 or 6 seconds as you mentally direct the energy generated; then blow the breath out.
Technique #5: Yawn, Breathe and Stretch
Before getting up from bed, spend 10-15 minutes each morning yawning, deep breathing and stretching to activate the lymphatic system.
In light of Dr. Jack W. Shield’s discovery in 1979 during the 7th International Congress of Lymphology, Prof. Karl J. West, current president of the International Academy of Lymphology, considers it possible that yawning may be at least a partially autonomic response for promoting lymph flow.
