Breathing: filling the chest first?

[CinStoneCity]

I would appreciate if you could shed some light on this. About each and every breathing exercise I have read about tells me to breath with my belly/diaphragm. However, MAP tells me to fill my chest first, and then fill my belly, reversing the order on exhale. These seem contradictory?

[CFTraveler]

In MAP he uses slow deep breathing, which is done the 'regular' way, just slowly and deeply. In other modalities, yoga breathing (and in some other of Robert's training) is taught. Also known as 'belly breathing', this teaches to use the lower abdominals to create 'more space' for the air (and to direct energy into the hara) while inhaling, and reversing it on the exhale.
Neither is 'more correct' than the other, they're just modalities of breathing.
You can use belly breathing if it suits you.

[lord.of.the.now]

i do the same deep breathing exercise

what's the benefits of doing this exercise?

[CFTraveler]

It's traditionally used in yoga, and can be used to direct energy where you want it. Even though it is said that it opens up more space for prana to collect (because you're directing your attention to your belly area (where the sub-navel storage area is), I think it's personal preference.
I was told by a practitioner that because it's different than 'normal' breathing, you have to put your mind to it, and it sets up an intention and creates an association with whatever it is that you're doing, like any successful ritual.

[lord.of.the.now]

so is that yoga exercise good for astral projection CFT ?? ..

[CFTraveler]

It's good for breathing and concentration. You use it for whatever you want to do.

[DarkChylde]

in kundalini yoga we do the breath of bellows