One week after completing the Mastering the Breath course, I have mainly focused on practicing 5.5 diaphragmatic breathing, the Sound Breath and the Awakening Breath, to observe the changes after applying these three breathing practices, and I will gradually apply the remaining ones.
The Mastering the Breath course has brought me many changes:
The first change: I pay attention to my breath more often, something I didn't do well before. I understand more deeply how important the breath is to my life. Before, when I was working under stress, concentrating or driving, I often breathed very shallowly and sometimes even held my breath, until I relaxed and found myself short of breath and tired, but I never even wondered why. Since the course, I often pay attention to and remember my breath, the way I would remember a friend. When I felt annoyed with a colleague, I remembered my breath, and this improved my mood very quickly. While working, I remembered my breath and adjusted it, which helped me stay alert and have more energy. Gradually, noticing and adjusting my breath is becoming a habit.
The second change: from chest breathing to diaphragmatic breathing.
Although in this short time it hasn't yet become completely natural, and when working under stress I still sometimes breathe into my chest, I adjust it when I turn my attention to my breath. At other times I find I can breathe with my diaphragm more naturally. I feel my body has more energy and I am much more alert.
The third change: a lighter step.
After practicing the Awakening Breath, I felt as if my body had lost some of its weight; I walked lightly and very comfortably. However, this feeling lasted only a short time after the breathing, and once I went back to work it returned to how it was before, though my mind stayed alert and I was full of energy.
The fourth change: greater sensitivity to sound.
During the sound meditation, all the surrounding sounds seemed to disappear, leaving only the sounds Ohm, Ah, Hum. My mind also stopped thinking during the Sound Breath.
After the Sound Breath and the Awakening Breath, I find I hear better and more clearly, and my concentration increases. The space around me seems quieter and my mind settles too. Although these experiences don't last long because my energy is needed for other activities, I am very glad to have had them, and I really want to practice more so I can feel the changes and transformations in my body more clearly and more often in the time ahead.

What I value most about this course is that all the breathing practices Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga) taught bring me a sense of ease and peace. I resonate most with the Sound Breath and the Awakening Breath: a quiet space envelops me when I practice these two, and I have an experience of almost merging with space, connecting with everything around me. It is as if I hold in my hands advanced tools that support me on my journey of awakening. Thank you so much, Master Saga!

I came to this course curious about why we need to master the breath, and how to master it. Before, I thought that simply breathing in and out meant I was already in charge of it. But over 2 days of study, my mind was opened wide and I saw a whole vast world of breathing.
I understood that the breath is truly wondrous, and that mastering the breath helps accelerate spiritual ascension at the speed of light. I came to understand that the breath is like a bridge between body and mind. The breath has the power to heal pain; the breath helps me understand myself better, listen to myself more, love myself and connect with the world.
I also realized that breathing correctly is actually very difficult. And I learned how to breathe correctly and how to have an optimal breath. For example, after eating, breathe through the right nostril to digest food faster. Before exercising or playing sports, breathe through the right nostril. Before going to sleep, breathe through the left nostril; lying on your right side makes the left nostril work more, increasing relaxation, so you fall asleep easily and sleep deeply. However, when resting after lunch, lie on your left side so the digestive system can work and digest the food. Before work involving finances, systems or processes, breathe through the right nostril. Left-nostril breathing, meanwhile, activates the capacity to visualize, imagine, create, synthesize and feel artistically.
Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga) taught us the Awakening Breath, and I practiced it in the morning for the full 3 rounds. After practicing, my whole body felt as if it had just “feasted” on a hearty meal of its favorite food: oxygen. So refreshing and clear. I realized that those 3 rounds of focusing on the breath were also a stretch of time when I wasn't thinking about anything; my mind was relaxed and at ease without any effort. The breath-hold step on the 31st breath gave me a very strange feeling: an emptiness, nothing left, not even the frame of this body, just a sense of light energy moving. No thoughts, no state, no emotions, no body. In short, nothing at all. On the 32nd breath, holding the breath after filling up with oxygen, I felt a fullness and tension from my head to my belly. When I could breathe out afterward, it was so refreshing. Suddenly I realized that just one breath can help me shift from tension to relaxation. I can help myself reduce stress by using my breath.
The 10 breathing practices Master Saga taught in this course are truly useful. The Peaceful Breath helps the mind stop running in all directions, halting thoughts so I can feel true peace from within. The Relaxing Breath helps reduce stress. The Pain-Easing Breath helps heal each specific pain. The Natural Healing Breath is like preventing illness before it arises. The Heart Breath helps me connect with my heart. I realized that for so long I had not given love to my heart, even though it has always loved and served me unconditionally.
I was especially struck by the Sound Breath, the Third-Eye Breath and the Cosmic Breath. With the Sound Breath, I listened to the sound of silence and was taken into a space of complete stillness, where there was nothing at all but stillness. A sense of peace hard to put into words. With the Third-Eye Breath, Master Saga told us to imagine that the eye itself is breathing; I found it hard to connect with this. But in this breathing practice I saw a halo of blue light moving aimlessly back and forth, up, down, left and right, not fixed in any dimension. I felt that I was that light: light, soft, without striving. With the Cosmic Breath, I felt the universe breathing and myself inside that breath, almost as if I were in water and feeling the water's pressure. I saw myself as one with this whole universe; everything breathes in the same rhythm.
Thank you, Master Saga, for opening my understanding of a subject that seems as old as the Earth: THE BREATH. From now on I will master my breath and use it for the right purpose and in the right way.

The Mastering the Breath course brought me a lot of new knowledge and helped me understand myself better.
First, through Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga)'s teaching, for the first time I understood the acid reflux that had stayed with me for a long time in the past. Back then, every morning when I woke up, even on an empty stomach, I would retch repeatedly while brushing my teeth. At lunch, even though I didn't eat much and waited about 30 minutes before brushing my teeth, food still came back up very easily. I tried many things, such as changing toothpaste or eating very little, trying to find the cause and relieve stress, but the condition improved only slightly.
Through Master Saga's teaching on the relationship between the chakras and the senses, specifically the mouth and the second chakra, I suddenly remembered that period and realized that my acid reflux was connected to my romantic relationship at the time. My boyfriend and I had oral sex. At first, while our relationship was still good, nothing happened, but after some time together I realized he tended to behave selfishly and lacked respect for my thoughts and decisions. Aware of this problem, I felt things needed to change, but he took it for granted that I would satisfy his demands at work, in daily life and in intimacy, even though I was exhausted. Once, I felt nauseous when he wanted oral sex. I told him I seemed to have a digestive problem, but he seemed irritated and didn't care. After that, I felt uncomfortable and refused every time he wanted to be intimate. The acid reflux also became severe as the relationship entered a tense, deadlocked phase. I felt nauseous every time I brushed my teeth (I understand this as a rejection of a foreign object entering the mouth, since a toothbrush is cylindrical, like a penis). Then we broke up, and a short time later my acid reflux disappeared too.
Second, I learned how to adjust my breathing to suit daily activities. When I took the Body–Mind Cleansing course, I came to understand that overeating makes the body concentrate its energy on digesting food, leading to drowsiness; I also adjusted my eating habits, which significantly reduced the tension in my abdomen and the heaviness of my eyes. After understanding the difference between breathing through each nostril and applying it, I find this method very effective. I breathe through my right nostril whenever I need to focus on work or study and feel a clear effect, especially when I'm sluggish. Breathing through my left nostril helps me sleep well and more easily.
From starting the SoulCoach Moon level course to the Mastering the Breath course, I have found life wondrous in the smallest details. Everything around me is connected by some thread. I never paid attention to my breath before; now I see that one small breath has such great power and can bring so many changes. Whenever I apply the practices in the course, I feel that when I am sincere, cleansing, transformation and good things come gradually, and one day I suddenly realize I have already been transformed, and I feel a sweetness and burst into happiness. This makes me trust the journey even more and keep making an effort every day.
Finally, I sincerely thank Master Saga and the Service Team for bringing us this meaningful course. I wish that I and my fellow Soul brothers and sisters practice diligently and receive many benefits after the course.

The “Mastering the Breath” course brought me so many new things.
In the past I often breathed in reverse, and after joining the “Four-Dimensional Body–Mind Cleansing” course I managed to change to belly breathing. However, at the time I didn't know why I sometimes breathed in reverse and sometimes with my belly. After hearing Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga) explain that reverse breathing comes from worry, nervousness, tension…, I understood, and by being gentler and more relaxed and bringing my awareness more into my belly, I could observe myself belly breathing. Next, I learned that of the four types of breathing (chest breathing, belly breathing, reverse breathing and diaphragmatic breathing), diaphragmatic breathing is the optimal type, the middle way, which works like a massage for the internal organs such as the liver, lungs, heart and intestines…, combined with a timing of 5.5 seconds for each inhalation and 5.5 seconds for each exhalation. And especially, practicing diaphragmatic breathing in 3 rounds with the 31st and 32nd breaths (Sat-Chit-Ananda: truth, wisdom, bliss), I had wonderful experiences, abundant energy and a very refreshed mind.
The breath is the bridge between body and mind; the breath is energy; breathing is both easy and difficult; as long as a person is alive, they breathe. Therefore, mastering the breath means mastering energy and understanding body and mind clearly, and it can change my way of life and my destiny in this lifetime: with enough favorable conditions and diligent practice, enough quantity will turn into a change in quality. Creation has bestowed a special gift on humans alone: the external nose, and this wonderful structure is suited to the environment; for example, people in cold climates have longer noses so the air they breathe in is warmer, while Asians have shorter noses better suited to tropical environments. The nose works like a human air conditioner. I also learned that the senses are closely related to the chakras: for example, the eyes relate to the third chakra (belly, ego), the ears to the fifth chakra (throat, interaction), touch to the fourth chakra (heart, love), the mouth to the second chakra (sexuality, relationships), and the nose to the first chakra (material, instinct) and the second chakra. From this, I can observe that if my breath is blocked, I need to work again with the first chakra and see whether I am lacking materially or too attached to instinct, so I can work on it and adjust to become more balanced. Most recently my throat was sore, which relates to the fifth chakra and to the ears. I became aware of this and focused on listening more: listening to and understanding the messages a speaker expresses or implies without saying, and I need to understand the core message the speaker wants to convey to me so I can respond appropriately and achieve the best outcome. Knowing this, I listened more instead of holding on to my own subjective thoughts, and the pain in my fifth chakra, my throat, has eased a great deal.
Furthermore, I also took in the lesson about the difference between right-nostril and left-nostril breathing, and that mouth breathing is very wrong and very harmful; breathing through the mouth is only a backup for when we have a problem breathing through the nose. Right-nostril breathing brings a lot of energy for action and is suitable before a competition, or during a meeting when we temporarily lack alertness. Left-nostril breathing brings relaxation and gentleness, suitable before going to sleep or before intimacy between husband and wife. Creative work relates to the right brain, and the right brain relates to left-nostril breathing; logical work relates to the left brain, and the left brain needs right-nostril breathing. So, by consciously mastering which nostril we breathe through, we can bring effectiveness and efficiency to the corresponding work in our daily physical lives.
The breath also supplies oxygen to a body that is severely oxygen-deprived because of food, the environment and the negative thinking that physical life brings. Breathing in brings positive energy and increases alkalinity in our bodies. Breathing out gently returns us to universal oneness.
Most important of all, the breath also brings memories to the surface, so that I can become aware of those memories and of the distortions that need to be purified and transformed, in order to integrate qualities into my life program this time around. In other words, in daily life, whenever I meet a problem or a situation, whether sad or happy, success or failure, I need to find myself again through the breath, and from there create myself once more.
My sincere thanks to our great Master, and thanks to the service team and fellow practitioners who created this very useful and meaningful “Mastering the Breath” course. And thanks also to myself for making the effort; I remind myself to practice every day with this beautiful breath. The breath is very important and of great value and benefit, so practicing awakened breathing is something very, very worth doing and never a waste of time.

The Mastering the Breath course has 10 different breathing practices. I was deeply struck by the COSMIC BREATH practice.
I sat in a comfortable position and closed my eyes at 6 a.m., in a quiet space facing the sunlight.

I began breathing in deeply enough and out long enough by practicing diaphragmatic breathing, 5.5-second breaths, 3 more times.
At first I was still distracted by counting 5.5 seconds for each deep inhalation and exhalation. After a while my body began to feel the breath with a sacred gratitude for the boundless love of the universe I was receiving. “As long as there is breath, there is life”

I saw my own physical body connected to my soul by a transparent, very bright cord. Then my soul flew high into the sky; I saw the Earth and a vast, boundless space. Somewhere there were many other planets, and many regions of light appeared. I felt very light and at peace, connected, as if I had been somewhere here before.

After bringing my awareness back to the present, I saw light in all things. Light in you, in me, in the tables and chairs, in the room, in the plants, in the animals…
Like a miracle, so special, so connected: we are one. ONE PURE LIGHT. No more boundary between me and the world, between inside and outside. I am an inseparable part of the sacred whole, a universe breathing through me. Each inhalation receives the life the universe gives; each exhalation is gratitude, living a meaningful life of love and transformation.

So how could I harm the pure essence in you, in me, in the universe? All is me, and I am all. I am a microcosm within the macrocosm.
So all that remains in me is love, companionship, connection, understanding, protection and growth, for myself, for others and for all things. Only a deep gratitude within me.

Now every breath is a miracle; I breathe in and out in rhythm with the in-breath and out-breath of the whole Universe. I am alive, present, connected with the whole universe. The breath is not only a biological need but also a bridge between body and mind, between the small human self and the infinite greater Self. When I return to mastering my breath, I realize I am no longer swept up in the flow of outside circumstances as much as before. I return to myself, to the light in my soul, with awakening and overflowing love. When I breathe fully and consciously, I feel a warm energy circulating through every cell of my body.

I am grateful to Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga) for letting me experience the Cosmic Breath practice, connecting with and discovering the miraculous, mystical truth of the breath. Unbelievable: I myself am the universe of the universe. With enough stillness, sincerity and patience in practice and application, I believe I will learn many lessons through each cosmic breath.
Grateful to live in a miraculous body. Grateful that the breath, which seems the most ordinary thing, is the very door that brings me back to the sacred home within my soul, through stillness, serenity and unconditional love.

What I value most from learning Mastering the Breath is the Awakening Breath and left and right nostril breathing, which I can apply and whose benefits I can experience right away; not only that, I have also shared them with receptive people around me, and they have truly seen positive changes.
I am currently in the stage of balancing chakras 1, 2, 3 and 4, cultivating both the mind and inner strength. I feel I have had significant changes and my chakras are more balanced. However, during practice I feel that chakras 3 and 4 still have many blockages; the evidence is that when I encounter negative things or when I sit in meditation, I feel tightness between my chest and belly. Something makes me feel choked, and it is hard to take a really deep breath gently.
However, after finishing the Mastering the Breath course, I immediately applied the 5.5-second Awakening Breath. At first I still felt choked and short of breath, with a tight feeling in the area of chakras 3 and 4, as if someone were stabbing me with a knife. But after 2 or 3 times of practicing calmly, I felt my breath open up and no longer felt choked or tight. And when I practice diligently, I find my breath becomes lighter and very slow day by day. Sometimes I have to observe and settle my mind very deeply before I can feel my breath. Following the lesson, in everything I do, whether working at the office, cooking or relaxing, I always try to bring my awareness back to the breath and practice 5.5-second breathing. I find I return to the present moment more, and there are moments when everything seems to stop and only my breath exists. I don't know how to describe that feeling. But before, when I practiced mindfulness, I also experienced something similar: a wonderful peace.
When facing stress at work, I breathe through my left nostril until I feel truly at peace, and only then get back to work. Compared with previous times, this time I regained my calm more quickly.
I shared this way of breathing with my younger sister, and she has applied it too and had wonderful experiences. At bedtime, she practices left-nostril breathing, lying on her right side as she sleeps. She used to have sinus problems and a blocked nose; applying alternate breathing through both nostrils, she can clear the air through both nostrils better, no longer stuck feeling blocked without knowing how to ease it.
I plan to practice this method diligently: first, for my own benefit, and second, because I want to share it with my family, since most people around me have problems with breathing incorrectly. Further ahead, once I have the necessary realizations, I will share this on social media skillfully and appropriately, to plant seeds for those who are ready to come to know this breathing practice.

A JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE BREATH:
FROM STRESS, INSOMNIA AND BACK PAIN… TO PEACE AND HEALTH FROM WITHIN
I always used to think of breathing as something... obvious, an instinct that needs no learning. But then there were periods in my life when I felt my body was “crying for help”: my head was often tense, I had headaches and constant nervous twitching, my neck and shoulders always ached, my sleep was shallow, and above all I had constipation with no clear cause. I tried drinking more water, exercising, eating more vegetables, using folk remedies... but the effect was only temporary, and then everything went back to how it was.
Then I learned the diaphragmatic breathing technique taught by Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga). It seemed simple; at first I thought it was just ordinary breathing lessons, but it truly became an important turning point in my healing journey. In the first days, getting the breath to reach all the way to the “root” felt like it took so long; sitting and counting, I wondered whether it really worked, practicing and doubting at the same time..
Then I began with short sessions every day, just 5–10 minutes: breathing through the left nostril, breathing through the right nostril, closing my eyes, and starting to learn how my diaphragm moves as I breathe in fully. Just a small change like that, yet I discovered that I had always breathed shallowly; my breath never went deep down into my belly. Breathing in deeply, I felt as if I were “opening the door” to an area that had always been squeezed tight.
At first it felt a little strange and somewhat tiring, but gradually each breath became like a hug for myself. And then… my body began to respond.
SLEEP: PEACEFUL NIGHTS IN THE RHYTHM OF THE BREATH
I used to dread the night. Not because of the darkness, but because of a tiredness that went on and on. Though very sleepy, I couldn't fall asleep, or I would wake in the middle of the night with a racing heart and a jumbled mind, thinking too much, about work and then the children…. Restless
But after about 1 week of diaphragmatic breathing every evening before bed, something wonderful began to happen. I noticed I fell asleep gently, like a falling leaf, and woke in the morning… completely alert. No more sluggishness, no more exhaustion. Simply light as a feather. Strange
DIGESTION: GOODBYE TO DAYS OF BLOATING AND CONSTIPATION
What surprised me most was the improvement in my digestion. Before, I might only go to the toilet every 2 days, and each time was uncomfortable and bloated. But about 3 weeks after keeping up deep breathing, especially breathing exercises early in the morning, I found my bowels working much more smoothly. My body seemed to be “woken up” from within. And truly, I felt lighter in body and lighter at heart than ever. No medication. No forcing. Just… breathing correctly.
LOWER BACK AND BODY: FREEDOM FROM PAIN
I used to think my lower back pain came from sitting too much or working in the wrong posture. Then, having recently given birth, with the residue from the injections still remaining… my back pain kept getting worse
When I breathed correctly with my diaphragm, I naturally kept my back straighter and my shoulders relaxed, no longer tight. The muscle groups around my spine, especially in the lumbar area, were no longer stiff, and I noticed something wonderful: walking no longer tired my back, and sitting at work all afternoon no longer made my neck and shoulders ache. My body was… healing itself, and I found that truly wonderful

THE MIND: PEACE WITHOUT HAVING TO SEARCH FOR IT
One of the deepest changes has been in my mood and inner life. Before, I was quick to get irritated, to worry, to overthink. But as I learned to stop and breathe, I also learned to step back from my emotions. Each breath became a place to return to, instead of chasing an endless stream of thoughts.
I began to have mornings sitting quietly by the window, just to breathe. No social media. No deadlines. And I find… life is more beautiful and clearer in every simple moment. I feel peace, I feel stillness, I can hear my own breathing, and I truly feel so very grateful

Breathing is the natural state of a living person. The breath is a gift that creation bestows on everyone. As long as we breathe, we live. The distance between life and death is a single breath.
As someone who studies and works in medicine, from my very first lessons I learned about the organs of the body, including the respiratory system. I learned about the mechanics of breathing, the physiology of the respiratory system and respiratory diseases, and I assumed that everyone breathes the same way. Diaphragmatic breathing, as Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga) teaches it, is the basic, natural way humans breathe. Only when the diaphragm is impaired, as in diaphragmatic eventration or phrenic nerve paralysis, or when a patient has a severe airway obstruction so that the diaphragm cannot drive inhalation on its own, do the accessory respiratory muscles, including the abdominal muscles, need to take a greater part, which gives rise to belly breathing or paradoxical thoraco-abdominal breathing. So why should a normal person learn to control their breathing? My impression at the start of the course was therefore: oh, do we really have to learn these things? Why learn to master the breath when it should naturally be that way?
By the second session, learning about breathing through each nostril and its physical and spiritual meaning, I began to see how limited my knowledge really was. A new horizon of knowledge opened up for me, things I had never heard before. And when I learned and practiced the Awakening Breath method, I seemed to understand why we need to master the breath. It seems that when I don't pay attention to and regulate my breath, I tend to breathe fast and shallowly. From what Master Saga taught, I began to pay attention to my breath more often, taking care to breathe more slowly and deeply, which has helped my soul become gentler and more unhurried, and not swept away by negative emotions.
When practicing the Awakening Breath, I clearly felt the path of the life energy with each breath. Strangely, I could direct it anywhere I wanted, just as in “the mind leads the qi”. Whenever I sat in meditation, I had a sharp pain at a point on my shoulder blade. When I focused on guiding the energy to that point, it felt more painful. Then, on the 31st breath, as I breathed out fully and held my breath, I felt an openness along my body. And on the 32nd breath, as I breathed in fully and contracted my pelvic floor muscles, I found the sharp pain had completely disappeared. My breathing also flowed more freely. I saw violet light dancing in my head. After that, I found I could focus on my breath better and keep my mind settled on the breath for quite a long time without becoming sleepy or dull, something I had never been able to do before.
I will try to practice more and be ready to welcome whatever experiences may come. The Mastering the Breath course has truly broadened my understanding and will help me meditate better.

First of all, I am so grateful to Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga) and to my brothers and sisters. I know my reflections are still young, but I hope to keep improving, study well and practice more diligently in the future. Here are a few of my thoughts after the Mastering the Breath course…
Before coming to the “Mastering the Breath” course, I was like a machine running non-stop in the whirl of work, life and study. I lived at a rhythm so overloaded it was suffocating: up at 7 a.m. to study, working extra hours from the afternoon until 1 a.m., and only getting to sleep at 2 or 3 a.m.; sometimes I got up at 6 to do yoga, but often I was too tired to manage it. Every day dragged on like an endless treadmill with no way out. Deadline after deadline, worries about making ends meet, and nameless burdens kept my mind always as taut as a guitar string. Though on the outside I might have looked fine, still very energetic and radiant, deep inside I felt I was gradually becoming drained of energy, of emotion and of the joy of living. The end of last year and the beginning of this year were the most unstable period for my emotions, moods and spirit in all my 22 years. I used to think rest was a luxury, and that the breath was far too ordinary to heal anything. But then, the simplest things became my lifeline at the moment I felt most exhausted…
The course gave me not just knowledge but a homecoming. I began learning to practice the Heart Breath every morning. As I place my hand on my chest, smile softly and breathe out gently, I feel as if my whole body and mind are setting down an invisible burden I have always placed on myself. With all my presence and love for my heart, it is as if I have come home. Each deep, gentle, slow breath is a step back to my inner home, where I can rest and embrace myself with all the tiredness that had never been heard. Whenever I feel weighed down by pressure, I use the Sound Breath, making soft sounds to release blockages. I feel the vibration in my body, as if each cell is being awakened and dancing. The tension no longer knots up; it settles down with each sound.
I have learned to breathe through the appropriate nostril for each situation: Before sleeping: left-nostril breathing to fall asleep more easily and sleep more deeply. Before studying or working: right-nostril breathing for a clearer head and better focus. After eating: right-nostril breathing for better digestion and less drowsiness. And last Friday, before defending my graduation thesis (which required a presentation), or when making important decisions: right-nostril breathing to boost confidence and initiative.

Dear Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga), after the Mastering the Breath course I have learned so many breathing practices, and I am very grateful for this; among them, the “Awakening Breath” is the one I connect with most.

Dear Master, before taking this Mastering the Breath course I had used the Thiền Thức Tỉnh (Awakening Meditation) app, which has a section of 5.5 breathing exercises with diaphragmatic breathing. I followed along, and towards the end of each exhalation I ran a little out of breath, and continuing to breathe in was quite tiring; afterwards I had to take a few quick breaths to get oxygen (as if short of breath and worn out). In the “Mastering the Breath” course, thanks to your guidance, I felt less tired (though I still felt rushed in the later breaths), and that is exactly why, when you said we would go on to learn the “Awakening Breath” with 30 breaths like that and 3 rounds, I was really worried (it seems you knew some students were worried, so you said: “It's just breathing, why worry?”).

In the first round I did indeed run short of breath but still kept up with the 30 breaths. By the 31st breath I was very worn out and could only hold my breath for 10 seconds, and on the 32nd breath I could still keep up and hold for 10 seconds. In round 2, everything became easier; my breathing was much more comfortable, with no more feeling of running out of breath. On the 31st breath I held for the full 15 seconds, and then I heard the “Sound of the Universe” (I think so); I felt as if I were standing in outer space looking at the planets in the distance. On the 32nd breath, when I breathed in and held for 15 seconds, I could no longer hear that sound (I heard you teach that this sound of the universe is usually heard on the 32nd breath, but I heard it on the 31st; I don't know whether that makes any difference?).

Just as you said, Master, the next day I practiced the Awakening Breath and didn't hear a similar sound again (I know not to crave or cling, but it seems I did a little, which is why I didn't hear it again; I will keep practicing calmly.).

As for the muscle exercises for people who snore, I find this part so good (because I also snore when I sleep, when I'm tired), and I can also apply it for my patients. They often have certain conditions along with dental malocclusions, and the functional appliances that reduce snoring during sleep only address the symptoms, not the underlying cause. This exercise will partly support my clinical work. I am very grateful to you, Master.

End of my assignment.

Wishing you, Master, and the team abundant good health.

Before the course, I knew that the breath is very important, that whenever we are angry we only need to focus on our breath again to return to peace, and honestly that was all I knew. But through this course I learned that the breath has an effect on so many things. The Mastering the Breath course gave me a great deal of knowledge, and I also came to realize many things. First, simply by breathing we can resolve many health issues, such as sinusitis; we can release blockages and even heal all 7 chakras. How wonderful.
When practicing the deep-breathing exercise with Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga) in class, after only a short time I felt my body become much healthier. It turns out our cells are extremely short of oxygen, and we need to breathe deeply regularly so as not to end up with many health problems. Until now, whenever I felt tired, I usually rested to recover. But if I was working or out and about and couldn't rest, all I knew was to use NLP on myself, telling myself to keep going, keep going. But I could only keep that up for a while before feeling tired again. Now I have also learned the deep-breathing method. It will help me a lot in the future whenever I need to rest but can't. One slight regret is that I still can't breathe for 5.5 seconds. At most I can breathe in deeply for almost 3 seconds and breathe out for almost 5 seconds. I am still gradually practicing.
This was also the first time I learned the meaning of left-nostril and right-nostril breathing. I never expected there to be such rich knowledge about which nostril to breathe through before sleeping, before intimacy, after a big meal, before exercising, when dealing with numbers and logic, when imagination and creativity are needed... Although I haven't tried it yet, this is really interesting. From now on, whenever I give a presentation, before an important event or when playing sports, I will practice right-nostril breathing to boost my drive and performance.
When we reached the Awakening Breath practice, there wasn't enough time in class, so we only did 2 rounds. After breathing for 2 rounds, my whole body broke into a sweat and I felt really hot. I didn't move at all, just breathed deeply, and still I was sweating. But I felt much more alert and much healthier. In the coming days I will practice this breathing method more.
Over the past few years I have breathed almost only through my nose, never through my mouth, and, touch wood, in recent years I have rarely had minor illnesses and have lived healthily every day. This course has further strengthened my firm belief in the benefits of nasal breathing. Thank you, life, for giving me good health.
I am a little sorry that on Sunday morning I had to attend a funeral and couldn't join the class. I will watch the video again and practice the Buddha's 16 contemplations of the breath.

On Sunday afternoon I practiced many breathing methods; some helped me go deep, but, perhaps because I practiced too much, I had a headache afterwards. I heard others say that this means the breathing practice is having an effect. At that point I applied the lesson again, sat quietly and just breathed very deeply, and in the end I felt well again. How wonderful.
What impressed me most was the Third-Eye Breath practice. After directing all my attention to the forehead area, right at the position of the third eye, after a while it felt as if a stream of energy were running through my forehead; the tingling sensation at the third eye was very strange and wonderful. I really like this feeling. It felt as if my brain were clearer. The only obstacle for me is that I still find it hard to synchronize the breath with the third eye, because when I sense the third eye itself breathing, I still feel the air hitting my nose. I'm sure I will gradually get used to this synchronization, but for now the feeling is already wonderful. Perhaps my third eye had degenerated a long time ago, and through this breathing exercise it was activated again for the first time. I have only practiced this breathing method twice; I will definitely practice it more in the coming time, because I really love this experience and I want it to evolve further rather than degenerate more and more.

I have often sat in meditation before, but I couldn't go deep into concentration. Through this course, I hope that after practicing the breathing methods enough, I will meditate better day by day and be able to go deeper into concentration. I also believe that much practice can release blockages and heal all 7 chakras. I know I still have many blockages, so I need to practice even more diligently.

Once again, many thanks to Master Saga and the Service Team (BPS) for the great benefits this course has brought.

Dear Master Ta Minh Tuan (Saga)!
Before I had studied and understood the breath, I truly didn't notice it, didn't care about it, and never thought the breath could have such an influence and carry so much meaning.
I have had a long-term blocked nose; I breathe fast, breathe in reverse, and find it very hard to take a deep, long breath. I didn't understand why I was like this either; I went to see a doctor to improve my breathing, but that didn't bring results.
After the “Mastering the Breath” course, I came to realize so many things, and I never imagined the nose and the breath could carry such deep meaning.
I realized I had been living under pressure for a long time, suppressing my emotions and finding it hard to empathize with (feel) others and the truth, attached to recognition, comparison and ego...
and reverse breathing made my neck and shoulders ache frequently.
When practicing 5.5-second diaphragmatic breathing, I still run short of breath and still tense up as the breath goes out. I will try to practice regularly as you guided, Master.
Every morning after waking up I practice 33 breaths. I haven't felt much yet; after breathing in reverse for a long time, breathing with my diaphragm is still difficult for me. My chest feels a little tight, my breath isn't deep yet, and I still don't fully relax when I breathe out, but I will keep trying and practice every day.
I apply the breath in my work. My work requires meticulousness, gentleness and care; before starting, I find a quiet place and practice left-nostril breathing. I never expected it to be so effective. Even though I always have deep faith in you, Master, and trust 100% in everything you teach without ever doubting, each time I verify it in daily life I am surprised every single time ☺ because it is so good and so wondrous. My work is much more effective and faster.
My body feels pleasant, comfortable and light, and I sense my breath much more clearly (even though my nose is still blocked). Focusing on the breath helps me be mindful, and I now enjoy sitting and breathing / lying down and breathing more than scrolling Facebook, Master ☺
I am grateful to you, Master, for passing on such useful and profound breathing practices.

Going through the Mastering the Breath class, I realized I had been breathing incorrectly. All along I had only breathed into my chest, so the breath had barely reached my chest before it went out again, leaving my belly and lower body short of oxygen. I realized that my life, from birth until now, has held so much worry, rushing, haste and fear that my breath has grown shallower and shallower, and that this is exactly what made the blockages in my lower chakras 1, 2 and 3 more serious.
When I did the peace meditation, my buttocks and seat trembled violently even though I had relaxed my body, and I wondered why they shook as if they couldn't hold steady. It felt as if they were signaling to me that chakras 1, 2 and 3 were extremely blocked and that I needed to work with them seriously, just as the qualities and distortions of chakras 1, 2 and 3 in my dreams had also conveyed this message to me.
The same thing happened to me in the sound meditation, the third-eye practice and the Cosmic Breath, but when I practiced 5.5-second breathing, I found the restlessness and anxiety in me settled down. Every day, whenever I feel uneasy or afraid, I notice my breath has become shallow, so I close my eyes and breathe for 5.5 seconds. And I feel everything settle, empty out and become more comfortable.
I know I need to practice the 5.5-second breath until it is second nature, to help me heal chakras 1, 2 and 3. Once, when I had a stomach ache, I sat down and patiently kept up 5.5 breathing for about 15 minutes, and the pain dissolved; perhaps that was when I experienced the wonder of this breathing practice.
Every morning when I open my eyes and before going to sleep, I breathe steadily for 5.5 seconds continuously for 15 minutes, and sometimes I fall asleep without even knowing when.
Perhaps breathing seems simple, but returning to the breath we had at birth is truly a journey like that of The Fool in tarot, turning away from the sun to travel a full circle and then return to where he set out. Within the breath itself lie the enlightenment and wondrous peace I had forgotten.
Before, I took part in breath-observation meditation, but I didn't realize how to breathe in a balanced way; sometimes I breathed too deeply, sometimes too shallowly, but because shallow breathing had become a habit, I kept feeling it was normal.
I am quietly grateful to this course for helping me understand and apply it in practice rather than only in theory.