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The word “Chi” in Chi Kung, a subsection of Tai Chi Chuan training means “breath” and the energy produced in the body in response to breathing.

Tai Chi Chuan practitioners take great care in their training of breathing technique, as they see correct breathing as essential to relaxation, to maintaining good levels of energy and overall good health. In Tai Chi Chuan's role as a martial art breathing technique is seen as a vital element in the overall training of coordination and balance.

In Tai Chi Chuan, the breath is generated from the activities of the abdominal, rather than the chest muscles. Our theory is that if the breath is activated by the abdominal wall, the diaphragm can move through its’ entire range of motion in contraction and return, increasing the tidal flow of respiration.

If one breathes through the expansion and contraction of the chest, the lifting of the chest cavity fights against the downward range of motion of the diaphragm, restricting the in-breath. The raising and expansion of the chest produces tension in the shoulders and neck area. For this reason we go as far as to say that if a person breathes using their chest they cannot be physically relaxed.

The breathing technique in Tai Chi Chuan is sometimes referred to as “reverse breathing”. During inhalation, the abdominal muscles pull inward as the diaphragm pulls downward. In exhalation the abdominal wall returns to a relaxed state and the diaphragm ascends. The focus of the practitioner is on the center of the abdominal wall, just below the navel. The abdominal wall is seen as being linked to the musculature of the diaphragm making the co-ordination of the two muscle groups essential to proper breathing mechanics.

As the diaphragm descends on contraction, and as the abdominal wall pulls inward on contraction during the in-breath, the organs of the abdominal cavity are gently compressed, expanding again as exhalation takes place. This internal motion in the bowel during breathing is absent for those who breathe using the chest. This internal motion is seen as working to stimulate circulation to the organs of the bowel, as well as stimulating peristalsis, thus improving alimentary activity. The training of abdominal breathing also increases the strength and flexibility of the abdominal and diaphragm muscles.

Interestingly, the model originally observed by Tai Chi Chuan practitioners when studying breathing is based on the method of breathing observed in young children. It is felt that as we age our breathing shifts from natural abdominal breathing to chest breathing due to the stress and tension that builds in the body over time. It was consequently felt that to go back to this more natural breathing would assist in reducing tension and conserving and stimulating physical energy.

A correlation was noted between mouth breathing and chest breathing, and nose breathing and abdominal breathing. When a person breathes in through the mouth the chest naturally expands. When inhaling through the nose, the muscular action of inhalation tends to work from lower in the system, facilitating the training of abdominal breathing. Given also that the nose acts as a natural filter and the sinuses act as our first line of defense against air-born contaminants and disease, nose breathing is emphasized in Tai Chi Chuan.

The position of the tongue was also seen to affect breathing. By keeping the tongue lightly on the roof of the mouth, the airway is more relaxed and open. This tongue position also stimulates the flow of saliva in the mouth. Practitioners are encouraged to keep their tongue in this position to the point of it being habitual for all the above reasons, and to protect the tongue from being bitten in the event of an impact or fall.

In short, two conclusions were drawn in relation to breathing. Firstly if a person breathes using the chest, the diaphragm can not go through its’ entire range of motion, there is no motion in the bowel, the shoulders and upper torso are tense and the abdominal wall is not worked to its' benefit. Conversely if a person works to re-learn abdominal breathing an entirely different internal scenario is generated.

The training of abdominal breathing involves certain postural exercises that make abdominal breathing easier. There is much gentle stretching involved to loosen the shoulder, back and chest muscles. For most people breathing has been done through the chest for the vast majority of their lives so the shift has to be done consistently and with great patience and encouragement.

Both pulmonary and cardio therapists have expressed great interest in the training methods offered through Tai Chi Chuan. Not only are the methods effective for helping breathing and reducing stress, but they afford for the patient a method of training within their reach; something they can do by themselves, for themselves with noticeable results. This helps the patients shift to a mind set of improvement from a mind set of deterioration, which may be the greatest asset the training has to offer.