Customer Reviews

Science of Breath

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I picked up this book (1979 edition) as a trombonist hoping to expand my lung capacity. what I got was not only much improved breathing technique but also a very interesting and stimulating introduction to yoga and eastern thought. the book provides a great balance between western theories (anatomy of the chest/nose, breathing mechanics) and eastern ideas (energy, prana, meditation). one *must* approach the book with an open mind since some of the ideas are quite foriegn to typical westerners, but the ideas convince the reader (at least this one) that there is much more to eastern practices than western culture gives them credit for.

This is an excellent beginning book on breathing for anyone who is interested in yoga. It covers the importance of breathing, basic respiratory physiology and the relationship between science and yoga.

The authors of this book are credible and have excellent professional credentials and established practices. They are associated with the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA that has a long standing commitment to getting science, modern psychology and yoga together. Many of their publications are excellent and certainly this one is as well.

I think any yoga practioner at any level will benefit from this book and even very experienced people will learn a lot. As the title suggests, this book focuses on the practical aspects of breathing and provides a good foundation or launching point for moving on to pranayama practice. However, the value add is the tie in to modern science.

As part of my living, I do workshops on such topics as meditation, pranayama and biofeedback, loving-kindness practices and other topics that integrate East and West. Before becoming involved in psychology and spirituality, I was both a research scientist and Teaching Fellow in Physiology. While I am not an expert at respiratory physiology or a top pranayama practioner, I have an established yoga practice and enough expertise to judge the merit of this book.

If you are serious about the breath and especially about pranayama, I would pick up "Light on Pranayama" by B.K.S. Iyengar. This book is very comprehensive and covers the physiology of the various breathing practices in great depth. If you are looking at breating for relaxation, you may also want to consider some of the meditation resources listed on my listmania lists. I also have a yoga resource list that might be helpful for those interested in pranayama. Another book in the pranayama vein that is quite popular is "The Yoga of Breath" by Richard Rosen.

In summary, this is a good book on the basics of breathing as a foundation for a yoga practice. It provides the basic concepts required to move on to more advanced breathing techniques such as pranayama.

I have a few problems with this book. From reading the book's description and summary, I assumed the book would be full of breathing techniques to master the mind and body. Unfortunately, only the last fourth of the book accounts for actual techniques. The rest is scientific explanations of how breathing can be beneficial, which I already knew, otherwise I wouldn't have bought the book. It seems to me that people are already interested in using the breathing techniques; they don't need to be sold on why it helps, as the book does in the first three fourths. Furthermore, the last fourth gives fairly undetailed descriptions of the techniques, I felt; or says these techniques should only be done with a professional teacher. So this makes the book somewhat useless for someone who is ready and willing to start mastering the techniques of breathing. I recommend a book that gives painfully descriptive actions for breathing, yet I don't know of one yet. Maybe it's best to just go see a professional in the area of yoga or rebirthing. Otherwise, the book is very interesting and valuable for a person who is unaware of breath and eastern philosophy. I just felt misled about its contents, so maybe that's my fault; I'm just trying to tell you.

. . .if not THE best, about certain so-called yoga issues, made useful for even the most skeptical of westerners.

I keep it on my shelf, along with Emma Curtis Hopkins' "High Mysticism," and "Christian Science Mental Practice." She was a great believer in the arts of breathing, and has much to offer on this, especially in the High Mysticism volume.

I can't speak for this edition, but assuming it still has the basic contents of the older small hardcover edition, whatever additions it may have, it would still be incredibly useful.

It is also incredibly pleasant to read. I used to own a copy, benefitted from it, for some reason got rid of it, and then repurchased one a few weeks ago. Last night I turned to it, started reading it, and was reminded what an excellent and useful little volume it was. I practised some of the exercises, and my enthusiasm for these techniques was renewed. I read myself to sleep on it. In short, I love this little book, and wish everyone would own a copy, study, and practice it.

I first came to Ramacharaka's Breath book, as a recommendation from an Israel Regardie book. Regardie was a chiropractic who used rhythmic breathing, and relaxation techniques with his patients. Much of Regardie's writing is replete with useful info. on that score ( see his 'The Art of True Healing,'for example.) Many of Regardie's useful books are out of print, however, making Ramacharaka and Co's. 'Science of Breath' book even more essential.

...but don't stop there ...

In addition to 'Science of Breath,' might I recommend that the curious reader, looking to enrich and bolster his/her health, check out an excellent, if more recent, book by Thomas Cleary: 'Taoist Meditation.' Truly, you do NOT have to be a Taoist to benefit healthwise from this book ( check reviews.) Michael Saso's 'The Gold Pavilion' is also a book I wouldn't want to be without, and depicts what is probably the safest of all the oriental alchemy techniques I have found yet in the literature. Both these books supplement Ramacharaka perfectly, in my opinion.

From there, you can turn to Rama Prasad's 'Nature's Finer Forces,' considered a 'must-have' by Regardie, and called "the best book on breathing" by its current publisher.

...but see my recent review (note dates) for Carl Simonton, MDs' 'Getting Well Again,' a volume also not to be ignored by those health-seekers and preservers (prevention being a big part of the health game.) In my review, I list about a dozen useful books, along with Ramacharaka's, that belong on anyone's health bookshelf.

Generally, what you want, is a wide variety of perspectives on health issues.

Of course, the caveat applies in all these matters: never should any of these techniques be used as a substitute for regular professional care by a certified, reputable physician. Books like Ramacharaka's, it bears repeating for some, are supplements, not substitutes.

(Note: Ramacharaka's book is not difficult, and in spite of its Eastern perspective, is not in the same league as the more dangerous oriental alchemy techniques discussed in some books, such as those of Eva Wong, valuable as they are. The two phenomena ought not to be confused, by and large. In short, oriental alchemy is generally for the few, while Ramacharaka's book with exercises is useful for just about anybody.)

I was a little skeptical at first. An entire book on how to breathe? I've been doing it my whole life, so I'm pretty good at it, right? What else could there possibly be to breathing?

Lots.

This book not only covers various breathing techniques, but also the science behind it. It covers the nasal cavity and lungs and how they work. Also, how breathing through individual nostrils have distinct effects on the physical and psychological self.

This book is also a great introduction/explanation to the breathing techniques used in yoga. Many yogis have said proper breathing is the first step toward enlightnment. This book shows you how.

I am a lifelong yogini and yoga teacher and originally bought this book when it was first published. In the years since have probably bought at least a half dozen other books on this topic and can honestly say this one is still the best. I recommend it regularly to my students because it's both jam-packed with information and completely accessible and direct in its approach. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This book is a must read for the serious yoga student or teacher. It goes into the anatomy and physiology of breathing, as well as the realm beyond. It discusses the energy of life and the link of mind, body, and breath.

I have a few problems with this book. From reading the book's description and summary, I assumed the book would be full of breathing techniques to master the mind and body. Unfortunately, only the last fourth of the book accounts for actual techniques. The rest is scientific explanations of how breathing can be beneficial, which I already knew, otherwise I wouldn't have bought the book. It seems to me that people are already interested in using the breathing techniques; they don't need to be sold on why it helps, as the book does in the first three fourths. Furthermore, the last fourth gives fairly undetailed descriptions of the techniques, I felt; or says these techniques should only be done with a professional teacher. So this makes the book somewhat useless for someone who is ready and willing to start mastering the techniques of breathing. I recommend a book that gives painfully descriptive actions for breathing, yet I don't know of one yet. Maybe it's best to just go see a professional in the area of yoga or rebirthing. Otherwise, the book is very interesting and valuable for a person who is unaware of breath and eastern philosophy. I just felt misled about its contents, so maybe that's my fault; I'm just trying to tell you.

Being that 3/4 of this book is on the science of breathing, I, like some of the other reviewers was kind of dissapointed, since I was expecting more practicle breathing exercies. But one tends to realize after reading it, that you do need to understand what the breathing techniques are actually physically doing if you want to master them.

I think a good book to read after this one is "The Secret of the Golden Flower" by Thomas Cleary.

For both these books, the price is right and the reading fascinating.

This book is a blend of western science and ideas and practices from yoga, but mostly science. I was able to learn about the science that might justify practices like "alternate nostril breathing." I learned about how flow through each nostril varies depending on time of day, mood and brain activity.

I became so fascinated I went on to use the neti pot (for cleaning nasal passages). Then I learned how to pass a sterilized string from one nostril, to the back of the throat, and then out the other nostril (for cleaning). The book mentions such things.

I suppose I obsessed on this because I realized through reading this book that one nasal passage always seemed blocked. And indeed, after visiting a doctor, it turns out I have one nostril significantly blocked by a polyp.

But this is probably an example of how these books can get you in trouble, or waste your time. The book helped me learn and discover something important about myself, but I might have caused myself some damage. I probably should have consulted a doctor much earlier in the process.

But still, a good book.