All Qi Gong practices require the regulation of the breath, and it is necessary that you are able to perform the correct method of breathing in order to gain benefit from the exercises themselves. Simply regulating the breath on its own is a potent form of Qi Gong practice as well as a great introduction to stationary meditation.

The most common form of breathing in Qi Gong, which is used in perhaps 90% of Qi Gong exercises, is called abdominal breathing. It has this name because of the movement of the lower abdomen during the breath cycle. When you are learning this it is useful to hold one of your hands over your abdomen, just below the navel, so that you can feel the movement. As you inhale the lower abdomen should expand first and you should concentrate on drawing air right down to the bottom of your lungs. Imagine that you are drawing air right down to the bottom of your abdomen; although the diaphragm does not come down this far it is a useful visualisation to aid you in getting the correct movement. As you draw more air in the expansion rises up your torso like a wave, to encompass the chest.

Remember that you are drawing air into the centre of your body, so there should be some expansion noticeable in the lower back as well as the abdomen, although this is less pronounced. The breath should be as deep and full as possible without straining; you should stay as relaxed as possible throughout. As you inhale the abdomen contracts first, followed by the chest, as you gently push the air out of your lungs from the bottom upwards.

A common addition to this abdominal breathing is to also practice a subtle control of the sphincter muscle of the anus. To do this the sphincter is relaxed and pushed slightly outwards during the inhalation, and drawn slightly inwards for the exhalation. The movement should be very slight.

This kind of breathing deepens relaxations and increases chi flow. Practiced on its own it can reduce stress and improve general health, but it is also the first step in learning to regulate and control the flow of chi within the body.