Post by saisri on Feb 1, 2006 0:35:59 GMT
Gassho Breathing
"Prayer" Breathing was a technique that I was taught in Hapkido in 1982. It involved holding the hands in a prayer position in front of the heart and breathing in the Heavenly Chi through the crown and into the hara on the inhalation and forcing the energy out through the hands on the exhalation. The technique was to get the Chi into the hands. During this practice the hands become very hot. After taking Reiki it occurred to me that it would be easy to incorporate Reiki into this practice. What is now ironic is that I have found that this practice was part of Usui's original Reiki Ryoho as practiced in Japan. Usui knew Ki Ko (Japanese Chi Kung) and incorporated many of those practices into his Usui Reiki Ryoho. Hapkido contains many Chi Kung techniques so there are some commonalties.
This activity is to teach you a breathing method using the Reiki energy and to focus the mind. When doing this activity the hands are held in the gassho or prayer position in front of the heart. This activity also helps you to still the mind.
Another purpose of this activity is to raise the level of your personal chi with Universal Reiki. It was common to most Ki Ko (Japanese Chi Kung systems) that the personal chi was stored in the body behind the hara (or dan tien). Some people describe it as a fire or light. When you do this activity you are bringing in the Universal Chi or Reiki and strengthening your personal chi. Many people also visualize the ball of fire that is their personal chi growing or increasing as they do this breathing technique.
To do the Gassho breathing you can either sit or stand. Breath naturally, but if you are breathing in a fast shallow manner concentrate on slowing the breath. Hold the hands in the gassho position. Raise you hands above the head, palms up and let the Reiki energy fill the body. Place the hands back in the gassho position in front of the chest. On the inhalation, visualize that the reiki enters the crown and flows down to behind the hara. On the exhalation, visualize and feel the energy move from the hara up to the palms and out. Do this for as long as you wish, but at least five minutes. When you are done, shake the hands nine times.
"Prayer" Breathing was a technique that I was taught in Hapkido in 1982. It involved holding the hands in a prayer position in front of the heart and breathing in the Heavenly Chi through the crown and into the hara on the inhalation and forcing the energy out through the hands on the exhalation. The technique was to get the Chi into the hands. During this practice the hands become very hot. After taking Reiki it occurred to me that it would be easy to incorporate Reiki into this practice. What is now ironic is that I have found that this practice was part of Usui's original Reiki Ryoho as practiced in Japan. Usui knew Ki Ko (Japanese Chi Kung) and incorporated many of those practices into his Usui Reiki Ryoho. Hapkido contains many Chi Kung techniques so there are some commonalties.
This activity is to teach you a breathing method using the Reiki energy and to focus the mind. When doing this activity the hands are held in the gassho or prayer position in front of the heart. This activity also helps you to still the mind.
Another purpose of this activity is to raise the level of your personal chi with Universal Reiki. It was common to most Ki Ko (Japanese Chi Kung systems) that the personal chi was stored in the body behind the hara (or dan tien). Some people describe it as a fire or light. When you do this activity you are bringing in the Universal Chi or Reiki and strengthening your personal chi. Many people also visualize the ball of fire that is their personal chi growing or increasing as they do this breathing technique.
To do the Gassho breathing you can either sit or stand. Breath naturally, but if you are breathing in a fast shallow manner concentrate on slowing the breath. Hold the hands in the gassho position. Raise you hands above the head, palms up and let the Reiki energy fill the body. Place the hands back in the gassho position in front of the chest. On the inhalation, visualize that the reiki enters the crown and flows down to behind the hara. On the exhalation, visualize and feel the energy move from the hara up to the palms and out. Do this for as long as you wish, but at least five minutes. When you are done, shake the hands nine times.