SCIENCE OF BEE ATE. 51 



fogis for centuries, can be greatly increased and augmented 

 if the person sending forth the thoughts will do so after 

 rhythmic breathing. Rhythmic breathing will increase the 

 value of mental healing, magnetic healing, etc., several 

 hundred per cent. 



In rhythmic breathing the main thing to be acquired 

 is the mental idea of rhythm. To those who know any- 

 thing of music, the idea of measured counting is familiar. 

 To others, the rhythmic step of the soldier: "Left, right; 

 left, right; left, right; one, two, three, four; one, two, three, 

 four," will convey the idea. 



The Yogi bases his rhythmic time upon a unit corre- 

 sponding with the beat of his heart. The heart beat varies 

 in different persons, but the heart beat unit of each person 

 is the proper rhythmic standard for that particular in- 

 dividual in his rhythmic breathing. Ascertain your normal 

 heart beat by placing your fingers over your pulse, and 

 then count: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6," etc., until the 

 rhythm becomes firmly fixed in your mind. A little prac- 

 tice will fix the rhythm, so that you will be able to easily 

 reproduce it. The beginner usually inhales in about six ; 

 pulse units, but he will be able to greatly increase this by ' 

 practice. 



The Yogi rule for rhythmic breathing is that the units 

 of inhalation and exhalation should be the same, while the 

 units for retention and between breaths should be one-half 

 the number of those of inhalation and exhalation. 



The following exercise in Rhythmic Breathing should 

 be thoroughly mastered, as it forms the basis of numerous 

 other exercises, to which reference will be made later. 



(1) Sit erect, in an easy posture, being sure to hold 

 the chest, neck and head as nearly in a straight line as 

 possible, with shoulders slightly thrown back and hands 

 resting easily on the lap. In this position the weight of 

 the body is largely supported by the ribs and the position 

 may be easily maintained. The Yogi has found that one 

 cannot get the best effect of rhythmic breathing with the 

 chest drawn in and the abdomen protruding. 



(2) Inhale slowly a Complete Breath, counting its 

 pulse units. 



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