Product Description

People laughed at the image of pretzel-legged yogis focusing on the tip of their noses- until Swami Rama walked into a laboratory and showed scientists what a yogi with control over his respiration can actually do. Before astonished researchers, he demonstrated perfect control over his heart rate and brain waves- control physiologists hadnt believed humans could possibly achieve.

For thousands of years, yogic adepts have claimed that breath is the essential link between body and mind, energizing a subtle body which connects the physical and mental aspects of our being. In this landmark book, Swami Rama and two noted American physicians explore the science of breath as the missing key to both physical health and the attainment of higher states of consciousness. Basic yogic breathing techniques are explained so that we can immediately begin working with this powerful ancient science.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89070 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .39" h x .39" w x .39" l, .44 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 119 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780893891510
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"... this text is absolutely the most lucid examination of the interface between Western medicine and yoga I have discovered... rarely in available literature have the physiological facts been presented in such accessible form... " -- Norman Weinstein, Yoga Journal

From the Publisher
Kessinger Publishing reprints over 1,500 similar titles all available through Amazon.com.

About the Author
Swami Rama founded the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, the Himalayan Insititute Hospital Trust in India, and many centers throughout the world. A student of both Himalayan cave monasteries and European universities, he founded the Himalayan Institute to create a bridge between the ancient teachings of the East and modern scientific approaches of the West.

Rudolph Ballentine, M.D., is a respected leader in the field of alternative and complementary medicine. A physician and psychiatrist, he studied medicine in the U.S., psychology in the U.S. and France, and both Ayurveda and homeopathy in India.

Customer Reviews

eye opening guide to breathing
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.

Review by former physiology Teaching Fellow and yoga practioner
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.

Know your goals
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.