The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath
Breathing may be considered the most important of all of the functions of the body, for, indeed all the other functions depend upon it. man may exist some time without eating; a shorter time without drinking; but without breathing his existence may be measured by a few minutes. And not only is Man dependent upon breath for life, but he is largely dependent upon correct habits of breathing for continued vitality and freedom from disease. An intellingent control of our breathing power will lenthen our days upon earth by giving us increased vitality and powers of resistance, and, on the other hand, unintellingent and careless breathing will tend to shorten our days, by decreasing our vitality and laying us open to disease.
There have been for ages past in India and other Oriental countries men who devoted their time and attention to the development of Man, physically, mentally and spiritually. The experience of generations of earnest seekers has been handed down for centuries from teacher to pupil, and gradually a definite Yogi science was built up. To these investigations and teachings was finally applied the term "Yogi," from the Sanscrit word "Yug," meaning "to join." From the same source comes the English word "yoke," with a similar meaning. Its use in connection with these teachings is difficult to trace, different authorities giving different explanations, but probably the most ingenious is that which holds that it is intended as the Hindu equivalent for the idea conveyed by the English phraze, "getting into harness," or "yoking up," as the Yogi undoubtedly "gets into harness" in his work of controlling the body and mind by the Will.
The Hindu Yogis have always paid great attention to the Science of Breath, for reasons which will be apparent to the student who study Yogi Science of Breath. Many Western writers have touched upon this phase of the Yogi teachings, but we believe that it has been reserved for the writer of this Yogi Science of Breath to give to the Western student, in concise form and simple language, the underlying principles of the Yogi Science of Breath, together with many of the favorite Yogi Breathing exercises and methods. We have given the Western idea as well as the Oriental, showing how one dovetails into the other. We have used the ordinary Engllish terms, almost entirely, avoiding the Sanscrit terms, so confusing to the average Western reader.
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