The Science Of Breath - Breathing

"Breath is Life."

Air Is Food

LIFE is absolutely dependent upon the act of breathing: "Breath is Life." To breathe is to live, and without breath there is no life. Every living thing breathes, not only the higher animals, but even the lower forms of animal life must breathe to live, and plant life is likewise dependent upon the air lor continued existence. Life is but a series of breaths. Breathing is unquestionably the most important of all the functions of the body, all other functions depending upon it. 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. Primarily we live on air, for one can go without water, or food, for days or weeks, but not without air for more than a few minutes. Air, although not generally so regarded, is really a food and of a highly important character. This is a fact which is rarely recognized. In a gross way the composition of air we breathe is one, of four parts of nitrogen, and one part of oxygen, by measure. In breathing we abstract these principles from the air far more readily than we can abstract them from food. The amount of proteid or nitrogenous food we require can be reduced to a minimum, our supply being largely procurable from the atmosphere, through deep breathing. The more air one breathes the less food one desires. Deep breathing as a fine art has to be taught. The majority of people are half alive, for they breathe just about enough to sustain life - effortless and lifeless. For this reason we should breathe pure air, and in the greatest possible quantity. The significance of breathing, deep breathing, must be apparent to every individual. Pure cold air is one of the things of which we cannot get too much. It is the greatest tonic in the world. Shallow breathing is as much & peculiarity of man as is overeating. The natural conditions should be - much breathing, little eating, instead of the reverse - little breathing, much eating.

The diaphragm is a large, thin, flat, muscular septum or partition muscle, separating the chest cavity from the abdomen. In natural breathing the diaphragm squeezes or presses down upon the abdominal contents, stomach, spleen, liver, small intestines, etc., pressing out their contents as one might squeeze a sponge. The pressing or kneading movements of the diaphragm upon the stomach, liver, and small intestines is of the greatest importance, stimulating these organs to increased activity, and hence beneficial in a great many ways.

The benefits of breathing, deep, vigorous breathing, must be obvious to every individual, yet the percentage of those who breathe correctly is very small. Of the different types of breathing, costal, abdominal and diaphragmatic, the latter is the natural and essential method. Diaphragmatic breathing massages or kneads the internal organs, and when systematically carried out is one of the most powerful influences for increasing physical and mental vitality.

Many Systems and Practises have been devised to teach the science of breathing, the most important in this respect being that taught and practised by the Hindu or Yogi Science.

The underlying principle of breathing of any kind is full and complete chest expansion, with partial or complete, rapid, or slow, exhalation. The position may be standing, sitting, or lying down, and the exercises may be varied by rocking, or side-to-side movements of the trunk, raising the body on the toes, or anyone of a number of other exercises as the fancy may suggest. It is needless to point out that deep, full breathing is an impossibility with women wearing corsets, or other tight-fitting clothing.

As a rule houses are built without the slightest idea of ventilation principle, and are really closed boxes. We cannot live in them under such conditions and retain health. It is not to be wondered at that individuals living in illy-ventilated and overheated houses, breathing and re-breathing impure and foul air, are rendered extremely susceptible to disease, particularly of the lungs. Impure air must undoubtedly be an important factor in the production of consumption and many other of the mal-assimilation diseases.

Open Windows

As far as is consistent with comfort, our houses should be wide open at all times to the influences of pure and fresh air, the most invigorating and essential of all health foods, the most powerful tonic in the world. The windows of our sleeping apartments, both in winter and summer, should always be open, for without pure air one can no more retain good health than live without eating. Draughts of cold air will not hurt anyone. The dangers of draughts like those of the night air, exist purely in the imagination; idle, groundless, and absurd as these ideas are. A simple method of ventilating rooms without undue exposure is to raise the bottom sash several inches high, filling the space at the bottom with a suitable sized board. This will allow an indirect and constant current of air, without allowing any entrance of rain or snow into the room. If you would have good health, breathe freely and deeply of pure air, always, regularly; specially so as a routine practise for a few minutes - morning, noon, and night.