| Friends, now that we have gone over the Yogic | | | | physical health. |
| Abdominal Exercises, the next steps in the Sivananda | | | | CORRECT BREATHING: |
| Style of Yoga are the Breathing Exercises also known | | | | In order to acquire the most amount of air through |
| in Yoga Circles as "pranayama". | | | | minimal effort, do the following tests to see which is |
| Before delving any further into the Breathing Exercises, | | | | the most beneficial. |
| will discuss the next topic titled below. | | | | Test 1 |
| How to Breathe Properly: | | | | Sit erect in Vajrasan (see Chapter 3 on asanas); cross |
| If you really want a great illustration on this, observe an | | | | legged or in a chair. Ensure that the spine is straight. |
| infant. They breathe diaphragmatically and naturally. In | | | | Now relax the abs. Do not raise the chest or bend |
| other words they don't use their shoulders or squeeze | | | | forward. |
| their stomachs (as some vocal coaches will tell you, | | | | Now accompanying the sound of your metronome, |
| which by the way, the world renowned vocal coach | | | | set at 60 bpm, inhale while allowing the diaphragm to |
| of the stars, Mr. Seth Riggs, said in his book to be | | | | descend without raising the chest and/or shoulders. |
| incorrect). | | | | The aim should be for the dome of the abdomen to |
| Considering the man coached Michael Jackson, Stevie | | | | have a slight outward curve NOT, as some so-called |
| Wonder, Lionel Richie, Natalie Cole, Luther Vandross... | | | | vocal instructors insist, as in "Sing from your |
| He can't be wrong!). | | | | diaphragm!" Count how many seconds of inhalation |
| Truthfully, the better you are able to perform Sun | | | | you can do with this method and take mental notes! |
| Salutations the better and quicker your breathing is | | | | Test 2 |
| corrected, so concentrate on them intensely. | | | | -Sit erect as in Test 1. |
| I will outline various tests to show you the different | | | | -Now defy test one's objective and stiffing the |
| forms of breathing and then how to combine all to get | | | | diaphragm. |
| the most in your inhalation. | | | | -Next expand the chest and take a long deep breath. |
| Yoga gives first attention to the physical body, which is | | | | Here the breathing will be done via the respiratory |
| the vehicle of the soul's existence and activity. Purity | | | | muscles connected with the ribs. |
| of the mind is not possible without purity of the body | | | | -Do you notice how much air you can actually inhale |
| which may be attainable via a mucus-less diet, asanas | | | | through this...not much right? |
| (or positive exercises) and breath control pranayama. | | | | Test 3 |
| Pranayama is one of the most important practices in | | | | -Again sit erect as in the previous positions. |
| all forms of yoga. In its practice, one is able to control | | | | -Contracting the abdomen take a deep breath by |
| the nervous system and thereby gain gradual control | | | | raising the shoulders and the collarbones, -Your test will |
| over vital energy and the mind. To breathe means to | | | | show that you can inhale only but so much via this |
| live and to live means to breathe! From the first cry of | | | | method. |
| the infant to the last gasp of a dying man, they are | | | | Test #1 is known as Deep breathing |
| nothing but a series of breaths. | | | | Test #2 is known as Chest breathing |
| Truthfully, the air you breathe is more important than | | | | Test #3 is known as High/Shallow Breathing |
| what you eat as you derive the bulk of your energy | | | | Naturally Deep breathing is the best and might only be |
| from that very breath of life. | | | | mastered by conscious effort or via the Sun |
| Yogis of old have declared that the correct habit of | | | | salutations and especially the Shoulder Stand and its |
| breathing, with natural diet, would regenerate the race | | | | counter poses. (Although a proper diet tends to steer |
| and the modern diseases of civilized man such as | | | | you in that route naturally!) |
| blood pressure, heart diseases, asthma, tuberculosis | | | | Now that we have gone over an overview of |
| would only be medical names in the Dictionary! | | | | rediscovering how to breathe, something babies and |
| In several institutions in the western hemisphere, | | | | virtually all animals know instintively, in part 2 we shall |
| correct breathing is being taught for the sake of | | | | be going over some actual Yogic Breathing Exercises. |