CHAPTER
X.
A FEW BITS OF YOGI LORE
We give below three forms of
breath, quite popular among the
Yogis. The first is the well-known
Yogi Cleansing Breath, to which is
attributed much of the great lung
endurance found among the Yogis.
They usually finish up a breathing
exercise with this Cleansing Breath, and
we have followed this plan in this
book. We also give the Yogi Nerve
Vitalizing Exercise, which has been handed
down among them for ages, and which has
never been improved on by Western teachers
of Physical Culture, although some of them
have “borrowed” it from teachers of
Yoga. We also give the Yogi Vocal
Breath, which accounts largely for the
melodious, vibrant voices of the better
class of the Oriental Yogis. We feel
that if this book contained nothing more
than these three exercises, it would be
invaluable to the Western student.
Take these exercises as a gift from your
Eastern brothers and put them into
practice.
The Yogi cleansing
breath.
The Yogis have a
favorite form of breathing which they
practice when they feel the necessity of
ventilating and cleansing the lungs.
They conclude many of their other
breathing exercises with this breath, and
we have followed this practice in this
book. This Cleansing Breath
ventilates and cleanses the lungs,
stimulates the cells and gives a general
tone to the respiratory organs, and is
conducive to their general healthy
condition. Besides this effect, it
is found to greatly refresh the entire
system. Speakers, singers, etc.,
will find this breath especially restful,
after having tired the respiratory organs.
(1) Inhale a
complete breath.
(2) Retain the
air a few seconds.
(3)
Pucker up the lips as if for a whistle
(but do not swell out the cheeks), then
exhale a little air through the opening,
with considerable vigor. Then stop
for a moment, retaining the air, and then
exhale a little more air. Repeat
until the air is completely exhaled.
Remember that considerable vigor is to be
used in exhaling the air through the
opening in the lips.
This breath will be
found quite refreshing when one is tired
and generally “used up.” A trial
will convince the student of its
merits. This exercise should be
practiced until it can be performed
naturally and easily, as it is used to
finish up a number of other exercises
given in this book, and it should be
thoroughly understood.
THE YOGI NERVE
VITALIZING BREATH.
This is an exercise
well known to the Yogis, who consider it
one of the strongest nerve stimulants and
invigorants known to man. Its
purpose is to stimulate the Nervous
System, develop nerve force, energy and
vitality. This exercise brings a
stimulating pressure to bear on important
nerve centers, which in turn stimulate and
energize the entire nervous system, and
send an increased flow of nerve force to
all parts of the body.
(1) Stand erect.
(2) Inhale a
Complete Breath, and retain same.
(3) Extend the
arms straight in front of you, letting
them
be somewhat limp
and relaxed, with only sufficient nerve
force to hold
them out.
(4)
Slowly draw the hands back toward the
shoulders, gradually contracting the
muscles and putting force into them, so
that when they reach the shoulders the
fists will be so tightly clenched that a
tremulous motion is felt.
(5) Then, keeping
the muscles tense, push the fists slowly
out, and then
draw them back rapidly (still tense)
several
times.
(6) Exhale
vigorously through the mouth.
(7) Practice the
Cleansing Breath.
The efficiency of this
exercise depends greatly upon the speed of
the drawing back of the fists, and the
tension of the muscles, and, of course,
upon the full lungs. This exercise
must be tried to be appreciated. It
is without equal as a “bracer,” as our
Western friends put it.
THE YOGI VOCAL BREATH.
The Yogis have a form
of breathing to develop the voice.
They are noted for their wonderful voices,
which are strong, smooth and clear, and
have a wonderful trumpet-like carrying
power. They have practiced this
particular form of breathing exercise
which has resulted in rendering their
voices soft, beautiful and flexible,
imparting to it that indescribable,
peculiar floating quality, combined with
great power. The exercise given
below will in time impart the
above-mentioned qualities, or the Yogi
Voice, to the student who practices it
faithfully. It is to be understood,
of course, that this form of breath is to
be used only as an occasional exercise,
and not as a regular form of breathing.
(1) Inhale a
Complete Breath very slowly, but steadily,
through the
nostrils, taking as much time as possible
in the
inhalation.
(2) Retain for a
few seconds.
(3) Expel the air
vigorously in one great breath, through
the wide opened
mouth.
(4) Rest the
lungs by the Cleansing Breath.
Without going deeply into the
Yogi theories of sound-production in
speaking and singing, we wish to say that
experience has taught them that the
timbre, quality and power of a voice
depends not alone upon the vocal organs in
the throat, but that the facial muscles,
etc., have much to do with the
matter. Some men with large chests
produce but a poor tone, while others with
comparatively small chests produce tones
of amazing strength and quality.
Here is an interesting experiment worth
trying: Stand before a glass and
pucker up your mouth and whistle, and note
the shape of your mouth and the general
_expression of your face. Then sing
or speak as you do naturally, and see the
difference. Then start to whistle
again for a few seconds, and then, without
changing the position of your lips or
face, sing a few notes and notice what a
vibrant, resonant, clear and beautiful
tone is produced.
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