A technique of conscious abdominal breathing is a way that can help promote digestion. You can stimulate energy points related to the spleen and stomach meridians (human body energy pathways (meridians) focused on in Chinese medicine, while you simultaneously breathe deep into your lower belly below your naval.

Keep your spine erect by sitting on a chair with a firm seat as you are firmly on top of your sit bones. (You can also use the straw experiment in the Secrets of Optimal Natural Breathing manual). Remain relaxed, loosen your belt, sit with your feet flat on the floor in front of you. Place the heals of your hands on your knees with the hands above your knee caps and your fingers pointed downward as if you were warming your kneecaps.

Using your fingers, especially your index finger, middle finger, and ring finger, find the soft part right below your knee where the doctor strikes with a rubber mallet to test your knee reflexes.

As you remain relaxed and erect, let your finger tips gently press in this area. Your middle finger will be over the center of your knee cap. Keep your hands there, using just a slight pressure to stimulate the energy pathways running through the knee area. Sense the warmth going into your knees from your hands. As you inhale, sense that you are gently breathing energy from your knees into your belly as you breathe in.