HARA-point – a simple relaxation exercise to try yourself.

The concept of the HARA-point comes from Japan. In the HARA school of thought, the HARA-point is the center of the personality.

The HARA-point exercise is best suited to restore calm and balance to your mind.

Imagine that the human body has energy points. The energy points that are important for this breathing exercise are in a vertical line that begins at the middle of the breast bone, and travels over the abdomen and belly to end at the Hara-point. You will find this a hand’s width under your navel.

First put some relaxing music on. Lie down on the floor. Make sure your legs are a little bit apart. Place your index finger on your breastbone. Breathe deeply and uniformly. Concentrate on how you are breathing out. Inhalation happens automatically. Breathe out as deeply as is possible. Pay attention to your breath. Make sure that you exhale slowly, and inhale without interruption. Imagine that each breath that you take is a new power that helps you to renew yourself. Imagine with each breath you exhale, you are exhaling everything that you don’t need for the next step in your life. Let your breath flow now through this point on your breastbone. After 3 more breaths, move your index finger approximately 10 centimeters down to your solar plexus, and breathe deeply concentrating on feeling your breath move through this point on your body. After 3 breaths, place your finger 10 centimeters deeper. Continue to breathe deeply, 3 times “through” ever deeper points on your body, until you have reached the Hara-point. After you have breathed 3 times at the Hara-point, the exercise is finished. After you have done this exercise about 10 times with music, it works without listening to music.

As an aid to sleep problems, it can naturally be done in bed.