The notes below are designed to give prospective readers an idea of what to expect from the book, and to aid in making a decision on whether to buy it.
Science of Breath, Yogi Ramacharaka
General Notes
Yoga joins or wakes up and allows one to control their body and mind.
Life is a series of breaths. Without breath we all die. It is more important than food or water.
Proper breathing helps to cure disease and do away with fear and worry.
Two lungs would each cover over 14,000 square feet if spread out (may need to fact-check this one).
Blood becomes dirty. Need to take up oxygen and release carbonic acid and impurities. Need to remove impurities fully.
Breathing is also an exercise for the internal organs.
Prana is absolute energy. Prana unites all living things. Prana is all-pervading. Prana comes from the air. You can store prana. Magnetic healing if others feel your power. Prana is exhausted via thinking, acting, and doing things. It must be replenished.
Nervous system includes the cerebrospinal system and the sympathetic nervous system which includes thoracic, abdomen, and pelvis.
Cerebrospinal is a small group. Nerves forces are where prana exists.
Sympathetic nervous system exists in the ganglia in the head, neck, chest, and abdomen.
Solar plexus is the most important part of the nervous system. It is the abdominal brain.
Mouth breathing (especially at night) causes disease. It also takes in warm air.
Internal organs need exercise and breathing gives them that.
Cleansing breath. Start by inhaling a full breath. Retain a few seconds. Pucker up to the whole exhale a little while.
Vigor. Stop. Exhale more.
Everything vibrates. Others feel vibrations.
Inhale and exhale. Retain half of the breath.
Rhythm more important than strength.
Prana disturbing - lie flat on floor with hands over solar plexus, breathing rhythmically. With each breath in, draw the prana in and store it in the solar plexus. Calmly and willingly let the prana spread.
Inhale prana and exhale painful past.
You can send love and messages to others if you have a pure heart.
When around annoying people use your prana to create a bubble around yourself.
Keeping the mind focused on the energy is the key.
Meditate on understanding the mind.
Joy will propel you if you don’t make yourself dissatisfied.
Lists
Vocal breath involves:
1. Complete inhale as slow as possible
2. Retain breath for a few seconds
3. Expel air vigorously
4. Rest the lungs via chest breathing
4 methods of breath:
1. High breath: clavicle breathing (chest raised), requires the most energy.
2. Mid breathing via ribs. Not the best.
3. Low breathing—abdominal diaphragm.
4. Yogi - complete breath, chest cavity is maximized.
3 steps:
1. Sit with an erect spine. Inhale via diaphragm down, protruding upper chest, top 5-6 ribs should lift, lower abdomen draws in
2. Retain breath for use.
3. Exhale slowly. Relax chest walls when exhale deeply. All parts of the body should allow the exhale.
Nerve vitalizing:
1. Stand erect.
2. Inhale a complete breath.
3. Extend arms stretched.
4. Fists back to shoulders, tightly clenched.
5. Push fists out slowly.
6. Exhale vigorously through mouth.
7. Cleansing breath.