SCIENCE OF BREATH/PART 12
CHAPTER
XII.
SEVEN
MINOR YOGI EXERCISES.
This
chapter is composed of seven minor Yogi Breathing Exercises, bearing no special
names, but each distinct and separate from the others and having a different
purpose in view. Each student will find several of these exercises best adapted
to the special requirements of his particular case. Although we have styled
these exercises "minor exercises," they are quite valuable and
useful, or they would not appear in this book. They give one a condensed course
in "Physical Culture" and "Lung Development," and might
readily be "padded out" and elaborated into a small book on these
subjects. They have, of course, an additional value, as Yogi Breathing forms a
part of each exercise. Do not pass them by because they are marked
"minor." Some one or more of these exercises may be just what you
need. Try them and decide for yourself.
EXERCISE
I.
(1)
Stand erect with hands at sides.
(2)
Inhale Complete Breath.
(3)
Raise the arms slowly, keeping them rigid until the hands touch over head.
(4)
Retain the breath a few minutes with hands over head.
(5)
Lower hands slowly to sides, exhaling slowly at same time.
(6)
Practice Cleansing Breath.
EXERCISE
II.
(1)
Stand erect, with arms straight In front of you.
(2)
Inhale Complete Breath and retain.
(3)
Swing arms back as far as they will go; then back to first position; then
repeat several times, returning the breath all the while.
(4)
Exhale vigorously through mouth.
(5)
Practice Cleansing Breath.
EXERCISE
III.
(1)
Stand erect with arms straight In front of you,
(2)
Inhale Complete Breath.
(3)
Swing arms around in a circle, backward, a few times. Then reverse a few times,
retaining the breath all the while. You may vary this by rotating them
alternately like the sails of a windmill.
(4)
Exhale the breath vigorously through the mouth.
(5)
Practice Cleansing Breath.
EXERCISE
IV.
(1)
Lie on the floor with your face downward and palms of hands flat upon the floor
by your sides.
(2)
Inhale Complete Breath and retain.
(3)
Stiffen the body and raise yourself up by the strength of your arms until you
rest on your hands and toes
(4)
Then lower yourself to original position. Repeat several times.
(5)
Exhale vigorously through your mouth.
(6)
Practice Cleansing Breath.
EXERCISE
V.
(1)
Stand erect with your palms against the wall.
(2)
Inhale Complete Breath and retain.
(3)
Lower the chest to the wall, resting your weight on your hands.
(4)
Then raise yourself back with the arm muscles alone, keeping the body stiff.
(5)
Exhale vigorously through the mouth.
(6)
Practice Cleansing Breath.
EXERCISE
VI.
(1)
Stand erect with arms "akimbo," that is, with hands resting around
the waist and elbows standing out.
(2)
Inhale Complete Breath and retain.
(3)
Keep legs and hips stiff and bend well forward, as If bowing, at the same time
exhaling slowly.
(4)
Return to first position and take another Complete Breath.
(5)
Then bend backward, exhaling slowly.
(6)
Return to first position and take a Complete Breath.
(7)
Then bend sideways, exhaling slowly. (Vary by bending to right and then to
left.)
(8)
Practice Cleansing Breath.
EXERCISE
VII.
(1)
Stand erect, or sit erect, with straight spinal column.
(2)
Inhale a Complete Breath, but instead of inhaling in a continuous steady
stream, take a series of short, quick "sniffs," as if you were
smelling aromatic salts or ammonia and did not wish to get too strong a "whiff."
Do not exhale any of these little breaths, but add one to the other until the
entire lung space Is filled.
(3)
Retain for a few seconds.
(4)
Exhale through the nostrils in a long, restful, sighing breath.
(5)
Practice Cleansing Breath.
NEXT CHAPTER
Comments
Post a Comment