42 SCIENCE OF S SEATS. 



YOGI VOCAL BREATH. 



The Yogis have a form of breathing to develop the 

 roice. 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, im- 

 parting 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. . 



(8) 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 smart 

 chests produce tones of amazing strength and quality. 

 Here is an interesting experiment worth trying: Stand 

 oefore 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 lip 

 or 'face, sing a few notes and notice what a vibrant. 

 resonant clear and beautiful tone is produced. 



