SCIENCE OF BBEATH. 67 



(10) BRAIN STIMULATING. 



The Yogis have found the following exercise most tuw- 

 ful in stimulating the action of the brain for the purpose of 

 producing clear thinking and reasoning. It has a wonder- 

 ful effect in clearing the brain and nervous system, and 

 those engaged in mental work will find it most useful to 

 them, both in the direction of enabling them to do better 

 work and also as a means of refreshing the mind and clear- 

 ing it after arduous mental labor. 



Sit in an erect posture, keeping the spinal column 

 r^aight, and the eyes well to the front, letting the hands 

 _*st on the upper part of the legs. Breathe rhythmically, 

 but instead of breathing through both nostrils as in the 

 ordinary exercises, press the left nostril close with the 

 thumb, and inhale through the right nostril. Then remove 

 the thumb, and close the right nostril with the finger, and 

 then exhale through the left nostril. Then, without chang 

 ing the fingers, inhale through the left nostril, and changing 

 fingers, exhale through the right. Then inhale through right 

 and exhale through left, and so on, alternating nostrils as 

 above mentioned, closing the unused nostril with the thumb 

 or forefinger. This is one of the oldest forms of Yogi breath 

 ing, and is quite important and valuable, and is well 

 worthy of acquirement. But it is quite amusing to the 

 Yogis to know that to the Western world this method is 

 often held out as being the "whole secret" of Yogi Breath- 

 ing. To the minds of many Western readers, "Yogi 

 Breathing" suggests nothing more than a picture of a 

 Hindu, sitting erect, and alternating nostrils in the act of 

 breathing. "Only this and nothing more." We trust that 

 this little work will open the eyes of the Western world 

 to the great possibilities of Yogi Breathing, and the numer- 

 ous methods whereby it may be employed. 



(11) TVits GRAND YOGI PSYCHIC BREATH. 



The Yogis have a favorite form of psychic breathing 

 which they practice occasionally, to which has been given 

 a Sanscrit term of which the above is a genera! equivalent. 

 We have given it last, as it requires practice on the part 

 of the student in the line of rhythmic breathing and mental 



