In traditional Chinese teaching, digestive malfunction is said to account for up to 90 percent of all instances of disease.  What we eat determines how our body removes, or stores toxins.  Yet no matter how well we eat or which supplements we take, particles of undigested matter may adhere to the inner intestine, toxifying the system and preventing absorption of our food.  One way to address this problem is to perform this simple “inner housecleaning” exercise once or twice a day, at least an hour after eating.  With your knees slightly bent, lean forward and place your hands on your thighs just above the knee.  Press down with your hands, exhale deeply, and draw your stomach in as tightly as possible at the same time.  Holding your breath after full exhalation, use your abdominal muscles to push your belly in and out several times.  Then stand up as you inhale.  Repeat this three times.  You will not notice an immediate effect, but over time every part of your body—from your skin to your brain to your internal organs—will benefit as all the nutrients in your food are absorbed and utilized.  Regular practice of Qigong such as the Eight Pieces of Brocade helps eliminate toxins from the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.