Last month I spoke about Sacred Tantra and Taoism in terms of "inner alchemy," the internal practices that cultivate an alchemical integration of Yin and Yang, Shakti and Shiva, energy and consciousness. The power of the breath and the utility of breath practices were described as an important contribution to this cultivation of inner alchemy. A practitioner of Sacred Tantra and/or Taoism will learn to develop heightened awareness of the intrinsic nature of breathing as well as cultivate mastery of specific breathing ("pranayama") practices that command and utilize the differing qualities in the inbreath and the outbreath...