THE POWER OF BREATH

We have access to the knowledge about the Power of Breath by the editions the Mazdaznan-Movement made of the Teachings by Dr. O.Z.A. Ha'Nish, their founder. In books on Yoga those things can also be found, but the clear and accessible way in which it all has been described in "The Power of Breath is really optimal. We westerners really have to watch carefully, so we do not just venture into all kinds of Eastern practices, as already Paul Brunton warned us in "The Secret Way". For us to be able to be fully aware, we do need oxygen for thinking clearly. To be able to do this, we will need air, clean, pure air to be precise; oxygen, plus a special something extra, that  in the East is called: "Prana".

Most often we have been taught to breathe exactly the wrong way round, that is: "Belly IN (keep it so), Chest Up. This should in fact be: Belly IN and OUT (breathing), Chest UP (Keep it so!). Read more about this in the exercises 1,2 and 4, selected from the "Power of Breath", that can be clicked on below.  

Even though all exercises should always be done consciously with unity in the Material (physical, bodily) way, the Spiritual way (with feeling) and in the Intellectual way (using your mind) at the same time, in order be optimally effective, (something Master Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov in his book "The New Earth" also urgently assures us of, it also remains of essential importance, to point at even just the physically advantageous effect that can be reached. About this, therer also is a very clear explanation in the Mazdaznan publication "Avesta Mazdaznan Songbook" (This chapter even contains an explanation of the beneficial effect of the vibrations generated by the singing). To say the least, in any case by the Mazdaznan breathing exercises lung-cvapacity will increase, because the chest will take on its optimal size, allowing as much space as possible for the longs to expand. Also, by regular exercise it will be possible to prevent the gradual constriction and narrowing of the chest by the muscles spasmatically pulling together (in subconscious reaction to   air pollution, tension or other sources of mental and/or physical irritation), thus limiting and deteriorating breathing. Also, the body will much stronger in a state of maximal inhalation than when "empty". Just try out this : 

1. Perch behind a chair with backrest, and grab that with both hands, breathe out. Now try stand up, lifting the chair. Try the same now, this time breathe in fully and stand up; you will notice a remarkable difference... As it is described in "The Power of Breath", with exercise 4: "When we want to move a chair, we squat behind it, grab it with both hands, keeping both fully relaxed, and at the same time we stand up, we breathe in and our willpower will lift the chair and put it down where want it, without any effort. Thus we conserve our energy instead of waisting it"... 

2. Go stand at the bottom of a flight of stairs, first breathe out; now walk up the stairs quickly, without taking notice of your breath. Now try the same in a different way: breathe in fully, hold that breath and now walk up those stairs again. If done in the right way, it will now go much better: on the Power of Breath. 

The above will probably already have clarified some aspects of the Power of Breath. here we will now just give a selection of three of all of the available exercises; even just doing the first one is already beneficial: that one can also be found in Indian Yoga. In Yogi Ramacharaka's book: "The Yogi-Science of Breath" much about this can be found, and there are also   some of those  valuable breathing exercises from Indian Yoga (Ida and Pingala breathing) in "The New Earth" of Omraam Mikhael Aïvanhov. Still, it is important to take care your lungs and the related muscles are in optimal condition, before getting involved in those exercises using one nostril at a time for breathing, for instance by doing the exercises from "Power of Breath" (in connection with the warning by Paul Brunton) until you are certain you can do the Ida and Pingala exercise without too much stress; you should be able to always do the exercises at ease. It is always best not to work at the maximum of your potential, but always at ease. Mind to certainly also first read the instructions from "The Power of Breath that are of extreme importance for an optimal practice of those exercises.

Start by learning the 1st. exercise; when this goes well. go on to the 2nd., only when this goes well tackle the 4th. Exercise 1 and 2 are excellent to be done in the morning, directly after getting up, before doing anything else. If Lunch will be the first meal of the day (as is recommended, but do drink water in the morning! A little fresh fruit , afer the exercises, is also excellent) exercise 4 may be done after that meal. It may also very well be applied to make a "Heavy meal" sink. Before going to sleep exercise 2 may also work wonders to relax. 

Then here follow the three breathing exercises we have selected (following a Mazdaznan - Theme-day  / course about all of the subject of the Power of Breath, including  all  of the exercises, is of course highly recommended too):

N.B.: ALL the breathing exercises, and much more, can be found in the Mazdaznan book "The Power of Breath", which may be ordered from The Mazdaznan Temple Association, U.S.A., see the link on our links page!