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relaxation routine is progressive, and in time will become almost automatic. If you find that you are physically or mentally tense before relaxation practice, first take a hot shower or bath and/or a short nap. Some light exercise, a stretching routine, or a massage will also help relieve tension. Another factor involved with deep physical relaxation is temperature. The body reacts to cold by tensing and shivering its muscles to generate heat. Even if you are a little cold, your body may not actually shiver but your muscles may tense. This can increase the difficulty of physically relaxing to the degree required. If you are doing this program in a cold climate, keep your body temperature at a comfortable level during the exercises. Use light blankets, comforters, and loose-fitting, warm clothes. If practical, heat your practice area to a comfortable level. The general rule is, if the method you are using to keep warm is distracting (e.g., if the blankets or clothes are too heavy or restrictive), try another approach. Novices often start by paying good attention to relaxation exercises, but then pay only cursory attention to them later in the program. Avoid this mistake or one day you will find yourself having to backtrack to relearn what has been poorly done. Each time you do it, approach the routine with care and attention. Think of each minute bit of tension in your body as a barrier to success. Each day try to become more relaxed than the day before. In time this will become habitual. Breathwork: Breath Awareness Breathing is key to conscious-exit projection. It promotes deep relaxation, provides clearer inner focus, and increases the amount of energy available for projection. The breathing methods in this program are safe and straightforward. You begin this week very simply with daily, five-minute practice sessions. Each week hereafter you will build on and refine the basic technique. By the time you reach Part 2 of the program, you will have all the breathing skills required for OBE exit practice. This week you will be learning breath awareness. All this involves is quieting your thoughts by focusing on the internal sensations of the breath cycle. Sit quietly, close your eyes, and focus your attention on the leading edge of the airflow as it passes into and out of your body. It is easier to focus on the leading edge of the breath than it is to hold the entire mental picture of the breathing process itself. If you find the above leading-edge breathwork method difficult, you will find it