Re: Breath and Breathing

Posted by mark on June 24, 2000 at 22:33:30:

In Reply to: Breath and Breathing posted by JVW on March 14, 1999 at 01:47:13:

:i am a reasonably active person doing spear diving and playing a lot of sport , in addition to this i am a white african and have been active my entire life . when i did the oxygenising breath all i felt was a tingling sensation on my skin is this because i have a natural perfect breath.

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Life is but a series of breaths. Breath is
: Life. We can live a long time without eating, a couple days without drinking,
: but life without breath is measured in minutes. Something so essential
: deserves our attention. Breath is the most important of all the bodily
: functions, in fact all the other bodily functions depend on breath.

:

As much as we are dependent on breath for life,
: so are we largely dependent on correct, healthy breathing habits for continued
: vitality and freedom from disease.

:

One of the first things we learn in Huna is
: that by controlling our breathing we can increase energy and vitality.
: On the other hand, incorrect, careless breathing leads to decreased vitality
: and opens us up to disease.

:

Civilization has changed our manner of breathing.
: Very few people breath correctly in today’s world. The results can be seen
: in poor posture, contracted chests, stooped shoulders, and the large amount
: of respiratory disease.

:

The foundation of health is a healthy bloodstream.
: Breathing is the way you fully oxygenate the body and thereby stimulate
: the electrical process of every cell in the body.

:

Breathing also stimulates the flow of the lymph
: fluid which contains white blood cells. The lymph system is the body’s
: sewage system. Every cell is surrounded by lymph. We have four times as
: much lymph fluid than blood! The blood carries oxygen and nutrients to
: the capillaries which diffuse them into the lymph fluid around each cell.
: The cells take only what they need and excrete toxins. Dead cells and other
: toxins must be eliminated by the lymph system, and the lymph system is
: activated by deep breathing!.

:

Whereas the blood system has a pump called
: the heart, the lymph system moves only through deep breathing and muscular
: movement.

:

Not only does physical health depend on correct
: breathing, our mental power, happiness, self-control, clear-sightedness,
: morals, and spiritual growth are dependent upon breath. Entire schools
: of Oriental Philosophy have been founded upon the “Science of Breath.”

:

In Huna we practice breathing exercises which
: allow us to gain control of our bodies and our selves, enabling us to send
: mana to any organ or area of thought (thought-form) to energize it and
: thereby strengthen ourselves and others. By controlled breathing we can
: not only cure disease, but also practically do away with fear, worry, and
: the baser emotions.

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Although breathing is something we do naturally
: and automatically it is important to examine just how breath functions.
:

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Breathing is accomplished through the elastic
: movements of the lungs and the activities of the thoracic cavity in which
: they are contained. The thorax is the portion of the body between the neck
: and abdomen. The thoracic cavity is occupied mainly by the heart and lungs.
: It is bound by the spine, the ribs and their cartilage, the breastbone
: and by the diaphragm below. It is more than simply the chest.
:
There are twenty-four ribs, twelve on each side which emerge from the
: spine. The upper seven pairs are called “true ribs” because they are fastened
: directly to the breastbone. The lower five pairs are called “floating ribs”
: because they are not directly attached. The upper two of them are fastened
: by cartilage to the other ribs and the lower three have free ends.

:

In respiration the ribs are moved by muscular
: layers known as the intercostal muscles. The diaphragm separates the thorax
: from the abdominal cavity.

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In breathing the muscles expand the lungs so
: that a vacuum is created so that air rushes in (obeying that well-known
: law of physics). The whole process depends on the respiratory muscles.
: Without the muscles the lungs cannot expand.

:

So, in essence, the science of breathing relies
: on the proper control and development of these muscles resulting in the
: ability to attain the maximum degree of lung expansion and to secure the
: greatest amount of life-giving properties of air to the system. Proper
: breathing exercises allow us to efficiently accumulate the maximum amount
: of mana. This is essential to health and to the practice of Huna.
:

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Upper Breathing. This is the most common
: method of breathing in Western society. This is also the worst type of
: breathing and is the source of many of our problems. One breathing this
: way elevates the ribs, collarbone and shoulders while drawing the abdomen
: in. The abdomen pulls up and pushes against the diaphragm, raising it.

:

In Upper Breathing only the upper part of the
: chest and lungs are used. This is the smallest area and so only the smallest
: amount of air enters the lungs. Also, because the diaphragm is being raised,
: there can be no expansion in that direction. Go back and review the mechanics
: of breathing. It will become quite obvious that Upper Breathing uses a
: maximum amount of effort and energy to obtain a minimum amount of benefit.

:

Upper breathing wastes energy. People who breath
: this way (most of our modern culture) are weak and unhealthy. Even athletes
: who should know better tend to breath this way and suffer because of it.
: Respiratory diseases and vocal problems can be directly traced to this
: manner of breathing which strains the delicate organs and results in harsh
: voices. People who breath this way often resort to mouth breathing which
: increases their problems.

:

Mid Breathing. This method of breathing
: is similar to Upper Breathing and only slightly better. In Mid Breathing
: the diaphragm is pushed up and the abdomen drawn in while the chest is
: raised somewhat and the chest partially expanded. The results are much
: the same.

:

Deep Breathing. This method of breathing
: is far better than either of the two preceding methods. Deep Breathing
: is well known among those who recognize the importance of breath in health
: and meditation. Many systems of breathing have been built around Deep Breathing.
: Many have benefited and much money has been made on Deep Breathing. It
: is, however, only a part of proper breathing. Deep Breathing must be understood
: before we can proceed to Complete Breathing.

:

You saw that in Upper and Mid Breathing the
: diaphragm is raised. The diaphragm is the great partition muscle separating
: the chest from the abdomen and its contents. At rest the diaphragm is like
: a dome above the abdomen. When it is used, the diaphragm is lowered to
: press down on the abdomen and force it out.

:

In Deep Breathing the diaphragm is used and
: the lungs are able to move more freely. This has led some to tout Deep
: Breathing as the best method as it is definitely superior to the previous
: methods.

:

The problem is that in none of these three
: methods do the lungs become completely filled with air. Even in Deep Breathing
: only a portion of the lungs are filled at best. Upper Breathing fills only
: the upper portion of the lungs. Mid fills only the middle and some of the
: upper part. Deep Breathing fills only the lower and middle parts.

:

It should be evident that a method which fills
: the entire lung space will be of the greatest value in allowing us to absorb
: the greatest quantity of oxygen and to generate the most mana. The Complete
: Breath is the best method known.

:

Complete Breathing. This method of breathing
: combines all the good points of Upper, Mid, and Deep Breathing while eliminating
: the objectionable features of each. It brings into play the entire breathing
: apparatus, every part of the lungs, every air-cell, and every respiratory
: muscle. The entire respiratory system responds to Complete Breathing and
: the maximum amount of benefit is derived from the minimum expenditure of
: energy. The chest cavity expands to its normal limits in all directions
: and every part of the breathing mechanism performs its natural function.

:

In Complete Breathing all the respiratory muscles
: are completely called into play. The other types of breathing use only
: a portion of these muscles. This means that the space for the lungs to
: expand increases and the muscles give support to the organs as needed.
: The diaphragm is under complete control and is able to function properly.

:

In the Complete Breath the lower ribs are pulled
: slightly downward by the diaphragm while other muscles hold them in place
: and the intercostal muscles pull them outward. This combined action increases
: the mid chest cavity to its maximum capacity. The upper ribs are lifted
: and forced outward by the intercostal muscles, increasing the capacity
: of the upper chest to its maximum capacity
:

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Complete Breathing should not be forced. This
: is a return to nature. Native people and infants breath this way naturally
: and that should be our goal. Once you have learned Complete Breathing it
: is not necessary to completely fill the lungs with every inhalation. This
: is an exercise for developing healthy habits and to be used several times
: a day in a controlled manner. With regular practice this manner of breathing
: will become a habit.

:

(1) Stand or sit erect. Inhale steadily through the nostrils. Fill the
: lower part of the lungs first by descending the diaphragm and thereby putting
: pressure on the lower abdominal organs, pushing the front wall of the abdomen
: forward. Next fill the middle part of the lungs by expanding the chest,
: pushing out the lower ribs and the breastbone. Finally fill the upper part
: of the lungs by protruding the upper part of the chest and thereby lifting
: the chest and the upper seven pairs of ribs. During this final movement
: the lower abdomen will be brought in slightly. This movement supports the
: lungs and helps fill the upper part of the lungs.

:

This breath is presented as three distinct
: movements, but the inhalation should be continuous, even, and fluid by
: expanding the entire chest, from the lowered diaphragm to the highest point
: of the chest in a uniform movement. Try to achieve an even, rolling action
: as you practice

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(2) Hold the breath for a few seconds.

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(3) Exhale slowly through the mouth. As you do so hold the chest firmly
: in place, draw the abdomen in a little and lift it up slowly as the air
: leaves. When exhalation is complete you may relax the chest and abdomen.
: This requires a little practice at first, but it can easily become automatic.
:
Practice Complete Breathing in front of a mirror if possible with your
: hands over your abdomen so that you can feel the all movements.

:

Rhythm. Once you have the basic structure
: of Complete Breathing mastered you can begin rhythmic breathing. Try the
: Ha breath. Ha means four and it means breath. It is also the sound you
: should make when exhaling during the mana generating stage of the Ha Rite.

:

The four is divided into a ratio of 1:1:2 for
: the basic Complete Breath. This means you inhale for a count of one, hold
: the breath for a count of one and then exhale for a count of two. You hold
: the breath to allow full oxygenation of the blood and to activate the lymph
: system and you should take twice as long to exhale because that is when
: you are eliminating toxins. It’s like Huna people have a reason for doing
: everything!

:

Use your heartbeat to establish a natural rhythm.
: You may want to start inhaling for a count of four beats, hold for four,
: and then exhale for eight. As you develop you can raise the number of beats
: for longer, slower breathing. This takes time. I started with a four count
: and now average an inhalation time of about thirty seconds, holding for
: thirty, and exhaling for sixty. Trained Yogis can take several minutes
: for one breath. Your breathing will improve with increased lung capacity
: and there’s no need to overdo it.

:

The Complete Breath is the foundation for all
: breathing. It should become your natural way of breathing, though as mentioned
: before you need not take it to the extreme with every breath. You should
: become comfortable with the Complete Breath, doing it naturally and evenly
: before proceeding with the following breathing exercises.
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What follows are some Yoga breathing exercises
: which when combined with Huna and Complete Breathing with contribute to
: great health, wealth, wisdom, and happiness.
:

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This breathing exercise ventilates and cleans
: the lungs. It stimulates the cells and tones the respiratory organs. You
: may conclude the other breathing exercises with the Cleansing Breath as
: it refreshes the entire system. It can be used after speaking or singing
: to rest the repertory system.

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(1) Inhale a Complete Breath.

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(2) Hold the breath a few seconds.

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(3) Pucker the lips as if your were whistling without swelling the cheeks.
: Exhale a little air through the small opening with considerable force,
: stop for a moment (retaining the air), and then exhale a little more. Repeat
: this exhalation pattern until the air is completely out.

:

The Cleansing breath can be used any time you
: are tired. I use this breath any time I have been around smoke or other
: air pollutants.
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This technique can be used by speakers, singers,
: or anyone to improve their voice. This exercise provides power, control,
: and clarity. This is to be used only as an exercise and not as a regulate
: form of breathing.

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(1) Inhale a Complete Breath very slowly and steadily taking as much
: time as possible for inhalation.

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(2) Hold the breath a few seconds.

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(3) Exhale quickly in one vigorous breath with the mouth wide open.
: This should be done instantly and your mouth should be wide enough to insert
: four fingers vertically between the teeth, or as close to this ideal as
: you can comfortably get.

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(4) Rest the lungs with the Cleansing Breath.
:

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This breathing exercise is designed to
: stimulate the air cells in the lungs. Do not overdo it. You will likely
: feel dizzy the first few times you do this. If you smoke or have smoked,
: do this only under supervision because you can pass out from the incredible
: rush of oxygen which your body is not used to. When I first tried this
: exercise I was about fourteen, spent hours each day riding (and racing)
: bicycles, and even I got dizzy the first couple times. Go easy and if you
: do get dizzy, walk around a little and discontinue the exercise for a while.

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(1) Stand erect with your hands on your chest.

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(2) Inhale a complete breath very gradually and slowly. As you do, gently
: tap your chest with the finger tips. Move your hands constantly so as to
: stimulate every inch of the lungs.

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(3) When the lungs are filled, hold the breath and pat the chest with
: your palms. As you progress you can pat your chest more and more firmly.

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(4) Practice the Cleansing Breath.

:

This exercise is very stimulating to the whole
: body. Many of the air cells in the lungs become inactive over time from
: incorrect breathing, smoking, etc. This exercise when done regularly can
: stimulate those cells back into activity over time. It is a very worthwhile
: exercise.

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