The Hindu-Yogi Science of BreathTheosophy / New ThoughtMystical / EsotericEnglishShareThe Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 6Project Gutenberg #13402 - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableProject Gutenberg #13402LanguageEnglishEspañol‹The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 3The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 5The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 7The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 9The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 11The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 12The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 6The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 15The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 16The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 17The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 18The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 19The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 21The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 23The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 24The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 26The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 27The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 28The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 29The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 31The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 32The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 33The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 34The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 35The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 36The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 37The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 38The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 40The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 41The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 42The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 43The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 44The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 45The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 46The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 47The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 49The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 50The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 52The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 53The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 54The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 55The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 56The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 57The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 58The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 59The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 62The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 63The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 64The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 65The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 66The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 67The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 68The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 69The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 70The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 71The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 72The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 74The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 75The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 76The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 77The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 78›Chapter Vi.The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 6ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1One of the first lessons in the Yogi Science of Breath, Is to learn how to breathe through the nostrils, and to overcome the common practice of mouth-breathing. 2The breathing mechanism of Man is so constructed that he may breathe either through the mouth or nasal tubes, but it is a matter of vital importance to him which method he follows, as one brings health and strength and the other disease and weakness. 3It should not be necessary to state to the student that the proper method of breathing is to take the breath through the nostrils, but alas! the ignorance among civilized people regarding this simple matter is astounding. We find people in all walks of life habitually breathing through their mouths, and allowing their children to follow their horrible and disgusting example. 4Many of the diseases to which civilized man is subject are undoubtedly caused by this common habit of mouth-breathing. Children permitted to breathe in this way grow up with impaired vitality and weakened constitutions, and in manhood and womanhood break down and become chronic invalids. The mother of the savage race does better, being evidently guided by her intuition. She seems to instinctively recognize that the nostrils are the proper channels for the conveyal of air to the lungs, and she trains her infant to close its little lips and breathe through the nose. She tips its head forward when it is asleep, which attitude closes the lips and makes nostril-breathing imperative. If our civilized mothers were to adopt the same plan, it would work a great good for the race. 5Many contagious diseases are contracted by the disgusting habit of mouth-breathing, and many cases of cold and catarrhal affections are also attributable to the same cause. Many persons who, for the sake of appearances, keep their mouth closed during the day, persist in mouth-breathing at night and often contract disease in this way. 6Carefully conducted scientific experiments have shown that soldiers and sailors who sleep with their mouths open are much more liable to contract contagious diseases than those who breathe properly through the nostrils. An instance is related in which small-pox became epidemic on a man-of-war in foreign parts, and every death which resulted was that of some sailor or marine who was a mouth-breather, not a single nostril-breather succumbing. 7The organs of respiration have their only protective apparatus, filter, or dust-catcher, in the nostrils. When the breath is taken through the mouth, there is nothing from mouth to lungs to strain the air, or to catch the dust and other foreign matter in the air. From mouth to lungs the dirt or impure substance has a clear track, and the entire respiratory system is unprotected. And, moreover, such incorrect breathing admits cold air to the organs, thereby injuring them. Inflammation of the respiratory organs often results from the inhalation of cold air through the mouth. The man who breathes through the mouth at night, always awakens with a parched feeling in the mouth and a dryness in the throat. He is violating one of nature's laws, and is sowing the seeds of disease. 8Once more, remember that the mouth affords no protection to the respiratory organs, and cold air, dust and impurities and germs readily enter by that door. On the other hand, the nostrils and nasal passages show evidence of the careful design of nature in this respect. The nostrils are two narrow, tortuous channels, containing numerous bristly hairs which serve the purpose of a filter or sieve to strain the air of its impurities, etc., which are expelled when the breath is exhaled. Not only do the nostrils serve this important purpose, but they also perform an important function in warming the air inhaled. The long narrow winding nostrils are filled with warm mucous membrane, which coming in contact with the inhaled air Warms it so that it can do no damage to the delicate organs of the throat, or to the lungs. 9No animal, excepting man, sleeps with the mouth open or breathes through the mouth, and in fact it is believed that it is only civilized man who so perverts nature's functions, as the savage and barbarian races almost invariably breathe correctly. It is probable that this unnatural habit among civilized men has been acquired through unnatural methods of living, enervating luxuries and excessive warmth. 10The refining, filtering and straining apparatus of the nostrils renders the air fit to reach the delicate organs of the throat and the lungs, and the air is not fit to so reach these organs until it has passed through nature's refining process. The impurities which are stopped and retained by the sieves and mucous membrane of the nostrils, are thrown out again by the expelled breath, in exhalation, and in case they have accumulated too rapidly or have managed to escape through the sieves and have penetrated forbidden regions, nature protects us by producing a sneeze which violently ejects the intruder. 11The air, when it enters the lungs is as different from the outside air, as is distilled water different from the water of the cistern. The intricate purifying organization of the nostrils, arresting and holding the impure particles in the air, is as important as is the action of the mouth in stopping cherry-stones and fish-bones and preventing them from being carried on to the stomach. Man should no more breathe through his mouth than he would attempt to take food through his nose. 12Another feature of mouth-breathing is that the nasal passages, being thus comparatively unused, consequently fail to keep themselves clean and clear, and become clogged up and unclean, and are apt to contract local diseases. Like abandoned roads that soon become filled with weeds and rubbish, unused nostrils become filled with impurities and foul matter. 13One who habitually breathes through the nostrils is not likely to be troubled with clogged or stuffy nostrils, but for the benefit of those who have been more or less addicted to the unnatural mouth-breathing, and who wish to acquire the natural and rational method, it may perhaps be well to add a few words regarding the way to keep their nostrils clean and free from impurities. 14A favorite Oriental method is to snuff a little water up the nostrils allowing it to run down the passage into the throat, from thence it may be ejected through the mouth. Some Hindu yogis immerse the face in a bowl of water, and by a sort of suction draw in quite a quantity of water, but this latter method requires considerable practice, and the first mentioned method is equally efficacious, and much more easily performed. 15Another good plan is to open the window and breathe freely, closing one nostril with the finger or thumb, sniffing up the air through the open nostril. Then repeat the process on the other nostril. Repeat several times, changing nostrils. This method will usually clear the nostrils of obstructions. 16In case the trouble is caused by catarrh it is well to apply a little vaseline or camphor ice or similar preparation. Or sniff up a little witch-hazel extract once in a while, and you will notice a marked improvement. A little care and attention will result in the nostrils becoming clean and remaining so. 17We have given considerable space to this subject of nostril-breathing, not only because of its great importance in its reference to health, but because nostril-breathing is a prerequisite to the practice of the breathing exercises to be given later in this book, and because nostril-breathing is one of the basic principles underlying the Yogi Science of Breath. 18We urge upon the student the necessity of acquiring this method of breathing if he has it not, and caution him against dismissing this phase of the subject as unimportant. ‹Previous chapterThe Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 12Next chapterThe Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 15›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain in the USA