30 SCIENCE OF B RE AT a. 



undoubtedly got their money'* worth if they were induced 

 to discard the old methods of High Breathing and Low 

 Breathing. 



Although many Western authorities write and speak 

 of this method as the best known form of breathing, the 

 Yogis know it to be but a part of a system which they have 

 used for centuries and which they know as "The Com- 

 plete Breath." It must be admitted, however, that one 

 must be acquainted with the principles of Low Breathing 

 before he can grasp the idea of Complete Breathing. 

 ~ Let us again consider the diaphragm. What is it? We 

 have seen that it is the great partition muscle, which sep- 

 arates the chest and its contents from the abdomen and 

 its contents. When at rest it presents a concave surface 

 to the abdomen. That is, the diaphragm as viewed from 

 the abdomen would seem like the sky as viewed from the 

 earth the interior of an arched surface. Consequently 

 the side of the diaphragm toward the chest organs is like 

 a protruding rounded surface like a hill. When the dia- 

 phragm is brought into use the hill formation is lowered 

 and the diaphragm presses upon the abdominal organs and 

 forces out the abdomen. 



In Low Breathing, the lungs are given freer plaj 

 than in the methods already mentioned, and consequently 

 more air is inhaled. This fact has led the majority of 

 Western writers to speak and write of Low Breathing 

 (which they call Abdominal Breathing) as the highest and 

 best method known to science. But the Oriental Yogi has 

 long known of a better method, and some few Western 

 writers have also recognized this fact. The trouble with 

 all methods of breathing, other than "Yogi Complete 

 Breathing" is that in none of these methods do the lungs 

 become filled with air at the best only a portion of the 

 <^ luug spaces is filled, even in Low Breathing. High Breath- 

 M. ing fills oiiy the upper portion of the lungs. Mid Breath- 

 '< j Irjc fills only the middle and a portion of the upper parts. 

 ?**w Breathing fills only the lower and middle parts. It 

 is evident that any method that fills the entire iung spacf 

 must be far preferable to those filling only certain parts 

 *ny method which will fill the entire lung space must h 



