Breathing is the very essence of life. For more than 3000 years, Yoga gurus have employed breathing techniques to balance physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. These yogic breathing practices bring physical benefits to all the body. The "Science of Breath" (Pranayama) can also increase mental power, happiness, self-control, clear-sightedness. This book explains step-by-step how to acquire the yogi complete breath and its physiological and spiritual effect. It contains clear explanations and practice exercises that have helped millions of people around the world improve their breath.
EXCERPT: "Life is absolutely dependent upon the act of breathing. "Breath is Life." Differ as they may upon details of theory and terminology, the Oriental and the Occidental agree upon these fundamental principles. To breathe is to live, and without breath there is no life. Not only are the higher animals dependent upon breath for life and health, but even the lower forms of animal life must breathe to live, and plant life is likewise dependent upon the air for continued existence. The infant draws in a long, deep breath, retains it for a moment to extract from it its life-giving properties, and then exhales it in a long wail, and lo! its life upon earth has begun. The old man gives a faint gasp, ceases to breathe, and life is over. From the first faint breath of the infant to the last gasp of the dying man, it is one long story of continued breathing. Life is but a series of breaths."  Easy to read layout. CONTENTS:  CHAPTER I. SALAAM.  CHAPTER II. "BREATH IS LIFE."  CHAPTER III. THE EXOTERIC THEORY OF BREATH.  CHAPTER IV. THE ESOTERIC THEORY OF BREATH. CHAPTER V. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.  CHAPTER VI. NOSTRIL- BREATHING VS. MOUTH-BREATHING. CHAPTER VII. FOUR METHODS OF RESPIRATION.  CHAPTER VIII. HOW TO ACQUIRE THE YOGI COMPLETE BREATH. CHAPTER IX. PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECT OF THE COMPLETE BREATH. CHAPTER X. A FEW BITS OF YOGI LORE. CHAPTER XI. THE SEVEN YOGI DEVELOPING EXERCISES. CHAPTER XII. SEVEN MINOR YOGI EXERCISES.  CHAPTER XIII. VIBRATION AND YOGI RHYTHMIC BREATHING CHAPTER XIV. PHENOMENA OF YOGI PSYCHIC BREATHING.  CHAPTER XV. MORE PHENOMENA OF YOGI PSYCHIC BREATHING. CHAPTER XVI. YOGI SPIRITUAL BREATHING.