breathing correctly is the first technique you need to master
not only will it help you to practise mii‑chi, this way of breathing is how you should breathe all the time to ensure that your mind and body are working as nature intended
you may already be breathing correctly but then again you might not
how do you breathe?
do this simple test for yourself
start by breathing normally, after a few breaths place your right hand on your chest and place your left hand on your belly
take a few deep breaths
how did your hands move?
if your chest rises and inflates when you breathe in, and falls when you breathe out moving your right hand, you are breathing incorrectly
if your belly inflates when you breath in and deflates when you breathe out moving your left hand, congratulations, you are breathing correctly
this way of breathing is known as diaphragmatic breathing, belly breathing, yoga breathing
it’s our natural way of breathing and it’s how we all used to breathe when we were born
remember as you inhale your belly should extend out, as you exhale your belly should go in
breathe in, belly out
breathe out, belly in
in time you can experiment with different combinations of breathing in and out through your nose and mouth, and different durations for inhaling and exhaling but to start with just breathe in and out in the most comfortable way