Bone Breathing Practice
Bone Breathing and Marrow Washing involve multiple variations, but the foundational practice focuses on inhaling and exhaling Chi through the skin and directing it into the bones. This technique involves visualizing the bones as hollow bamboo tubes, allowing the practitioner to “breathe in” Chi and pack it into the marrow.
Bone Breathing follows a natural breathing rhythm—there is no need to strain or hold the breath excessively. This practice can be performed while seated or in the Embracing the Tree posture, or any other Iron Shirt Chi Kung stance. The key elements involve integrating mind, eye, and heart power to guide Chiabsorption.
Drawing Chi into the Hands and Arms
Begin with the Hands: Take short, gentle inhalations while focusing on the sensation of suction, as if drawing in Chi from the atmosphere. Expand your awareness beyond your hands, eventually reaching out to the universe. Continue inhaling in short sips, using intention (I) to pull Chi into the hands. Maintain a soft smile to facilitate energy flow. As the Chi pressure increases in your hands, extend the sensation throughout your arms. Imagine the skin of your arms “breathing in” Chi, holding the energy within.
Condensing Chi into the Bones: Take a deep breath and lightly contract the arm muscles, compressing the Chi into the bones. Hold the breath briefly to allow Chi to settle into the marrow. Exhale, feeling a distinct heaviness in the bones, indicating successful Chi absorption. With practice, rely less on muscular contraction and more on subtle intention and soft breathing to direct Chi into the bones. Repeat this process six to nine times, then pause to sense the Chi condensed within.
Continue the practice by gradually directing your breath through the bones of the forearms, upper arms, scapula, collarbone, sternum, and ribs. As you breathe into each region, you may experience varying sensations—some areas may feel cool, while others may generate warmth or tingling, depending on the bone structure and the quality of the marrow.
Next, apply the same technique to the legs, inhaling and exhaling smoothly. Progress systematically, guiding the breath through the calf bones, thigh bones, pelvis, coccyx, and sacrum, then drawing it upward along the spinal column to the C-7 vertebra at the base of the neck.
Finally, inhale through both the arms and legs simultaneously, merging their energy as it ascends past C-7, through the neck, and into the skull. Maintain this full-body breathing pattern for at least nine breaths, then conclude the practice by gathering and storing the energy at the navel.