The Yogis have a favorite form of psychic breathing which they practice occasionally, to which has been given n Sanscrit term of which the above is a general equivalent. We have given it last, as it requires practice on the part of the student in the line of rhythmic breathing and mental imagery, which he has now acquired by means of the preceding exercises. The general principles of the Grant; Breath may be summed up in the old Hindu saying: "Blessed is the Yogi who can breathe through his bones." This exercise will fill the entire system with prana, and the student will emerge from it with every bone, muscle, nerve, cell, tissue, organ and part energized and attuned by the prana and the rhythm of the breath. It is a general housecleaning of the system, and he who practices it carefully will feel us if he had been given a new body, freshly created, from the crown of bis head to the tips of his toes. We will let the exercise speak for itself. (1) Lie in a relaxed position, at perfect ease.
(2) Breathe rhythmically until the rhythm is perfectly established.
(3) Then, inhaling and exhaling, form the mental Image of the breath being drawn up through the bones of the legs, and then forced out through them; then through the bones of the anna; then through the top of the skull; then through the stomach; then through the reproductive region; then as if it were traveling upward and downward along the spinal column; and then as if the breath were being Inhaled and exhaled through every pore of the skin, the whole body being filled with prana and life.
(4) Then (breathing rhythmically) send the current of prana to the Seven Vital Centers, in turn, as follows, aalng the mental picture as in previous exercises:
(a) To the forehead, (b) To the back of the head. (c) To the base of the brain, (d) To the Solar Plexus.
(e) To the Sacral Region (lower part of the spine). (f) To the region of the navel, (g) To the reproductive region. Finish by sweeping the current of prana, to and from head to feet several times.
(5) Finish with Cleansing Breath. (The Hindu-Yogi Science Of Breath by Atkinson, William Walker, 1862-1932 ) |
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The Yogis have a favorite form of breathing which they practice when they feel the necessity of ventilating and cleansing the lungs. They conclude many of their other breathing exercises with this breath, and we have followed this practice in this book. This Cleansing Breath ventilates and cleanses the lungs, stimulates the cells and gives a general tone to the respiratory organs, and is conducive to their general healthy condition. Besides this effect, it is found to greatly refresh the entire system. Speakers, singers, etc., will find this breath especially restful, after having tired the respiratory organs.
(1) Inhale a complete breath.
(2) Retain the air a few seconds.
(3) Pucker up the lips as if for a whistle (but do not swell out the cheeks), then exhale a little air through the opening, with considerable vigor. Then stop for a moment retaining the air, and then exhale a little more air. Repeat until the air is completely exhaled. Remember tnat considerable vigor is to be used in exhaling the air through the opening in the lips.
This breath will be found quite refreshing when one is tired and generally "used up." A trial will convince the student of its merits. This exercise should be practiced until it can be performed naturally and easily, as it is used to finish up a number of other exercises given in this book, and it should be thoroughly understood. (The Hindu-Yogi Science Of Breath by Atkinson, William Walker, 1862-1932 ) |