340 The taw of the Rhythmic BreatK 



thrust out and downward, it expands the thorax, 

 creating a vacuum into which the air is drawn, and 

 it presses downward and outward all that is be- 

 neath it. Normal, deep breathing, which is rhyth- 

 mic and harmonious, is thus an internal massage of 

 all the vital organs. Every breath moves them 

 gently in position, and consequently increases the 

 circulation of the blood, and stimulates their secre- 

 tions and excretions. The movements in both di- 

 rections are partly contraction and partly expan- 

 sion. 



If you are not certain that your habitual breath- 

 ing thus lowers and raises the diaphragm so the 

 whole lungs are alternately filled and emptied, 

 practice deep breathing while lying prone upon 

 your back upon an unyielding surface. You will 

 thus both see and feel the downward and outward 

 stretching movement of the diaphragm as it flat- 

 tens out when you inhale; for the abdomen is dis- 

 tended by the lowering of the viscera ; and you will 

 distinctly feel the pressure upon the small of the 

 back where the diaphragm is connected with the 

 spine just below the lowest rib. Its great anchor- 

 ing muscles, there contracting, pull it down forci- 

 bly. This part should be distended as much as 

 the abdomen, but at the beginning of practice is 

 apt to be found inactive. 



It is in the filling of these lower lung-cells that 

 the favorable Tattvas, Prithivi and Apas, put in 



