mmontalvo91,
The technique that you had referred to is called dirgha pranayam, the three part breath. It’s main function is to absorb more prana in to one’s system. This helps tremendously in purification of the nadis, the pathways in the subtle body which carry the subtle energy as well as absorbing the subtle energy into the energy centers along the spinal cord. But I would not suggest you practice this technique immediately. First, settle the basic method of deep breathing which is expansion of the belly and diaphragm through inhalation, breath retention, and a natural contracting of the belly and diaphragm through exhalation. What is important is to practice according to a ratio which your system can handle in it’s present state. If you try the technique without having already expanded your lung capacity, you will find yourself gasping and uncomfortable. One has to gradually train one’s inner organs to handle larger and larger amounts of oxygen and energy as well as come to a certain amount of control over every part of the breath from it’s beginning, to the it’s middle, to it’s end.
First start with four seconds inhalation, four seconds retention, four seconds exhalation. One you have practiced this over an extended period of time and have found it to have become more or less effortless - then begins the work of prolonging the breath. Practice perhaps six seconds inhalation, six seconds retention, and six seconds inahalation, over a period of time until it has become effortless. And in this way, continue prolonging the breath until you can manage sixteen seconds during each part of the breath.
Then, once you start practicing dirgha pranayam, you will find it to be a far more friendly process.
