Science of Breath: A Practical Guide

Rating:
Summary: one of the best. . .
Review: . . .if not THE best, about certain so-called yoga issues, made useful for even the most skeptical of westerners.

I can't speak for this edition, but assuming it still has the basic contents of the older small hardcover edition, whatever additions it may have, it would still be incredibly useful.

It is also incredibly pleasant to read. I used to own a copy, benefitted from it, for some reason got rid of it, and then repurchased one a few weeks ago. Last night I turned to it, started reading it, and was reminded what an excellent and useful little volume it was. I practised some of the exercises, and my enthusiasm for these techniques was renewed. I read myself to sleep on it. In short, I love this little book, and wish everyone would own a copy, study, and practice it.

I first came to Ramacharaka's Breath book, as a recommendation from an Israel Regardie book. Regardie was a chiropractic who used rhythmic breathing, and relaxation techniques with his patients. Much of Regardie's writing is replete with useful info. on that score ( see his 'The Art of True Healing,'for example.) Many of Regardie's useful books are out of print, however, making Ramacharaka and Co's. 'Science of Breath' book even more essential.

...but don't stop there ...

In addition to 'Science of Breath,' might I recommend that the curious reader, looking to enrich and bolster his/her health, check out an excellent, if more recent, book by Thomas Cleary: 'Taoist Meditation.' Truly, you do NOT have to be a Taoist to benefit healthwise from this book ( check reviews.) Michael Saso's 'The Gold Pavilion' is also a book I wouldn't want to be without, and depicts what is probably the safest of all the oriental alchemy techniques I have found yet in the literature. Both these books supplement Ramacharaka perfectly, in my opinion.

From there, you can turn to Rama Prasad's 'Nature's Finer Forces,' considered a 'must-have' by Regardie, and called "the best book on breathing" by its current publisher.

...but see my recent review (note dates) for Carl Simonton, MDs' 'Getting Well Again,' a volume also not to be ignored by those health-seekers and preservers (prevention being a big part of the health game.) In my review, I list about a dozen useful books, along with Ramacharaka's, that belong on anyone's health bookshelf.

Generally, what you want, is a wide variety of perspectives on health issues.

Of course, the caveat applies in all these matters: never should any of these techniques be used as a substitute for regular professional care by a certified, reputable physician. Books like Ramacharaka's, it bears repeating for some, are supplements, not substitutes.

(Note: Ramacharaka's book is not difficult, and in spite of its Eastern perspective, is not in the same league as the more dangerous oriental alchemy techniques discussed in some books, such as those of Eva Wong, valuable as they are. The two phenomena ought not to be confused, by and large. In short, oriental alchemy is generally for the few, while Ramacharaka's book with exercises is useful for just about anybody.)

Rating:
Summary: Still the Best
Review: I am a lifelong yogini and yoga teacher and originally bought this book when it was first published. In the years since have probably bought at least a half dozen other books on this topic and can honestly say this one is still the best. I recommend it regularly to my students because it's both jam-packed with information and completely accessible and direct in its approach. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Rating:
Summary: Know your goals
Review: I have a few problems with this book. From reading the book's description and summary, I assumed the book would be full of breathing techniques to master the mind and body. Unfortunately, only the last fourth of the book accounts for actual techniques. The rest is scientific explanations of how breathing can be beneficial, which I already knew, otherwise I wouldn't have bought the book. It seems to me that people are already interested in using the breathing techniques; they don't need to be sold on why it helps, as the book does in the first three fourths. Furthermore, the last fourth gives fairly undetailed descriptions of the techniques, I felt; or says these techniques should only be done with a professional teacher. So this makes the book somewhat useless for someone who is ready and willing to start mastering the techniques of breathing. I recommend a book that gives painfully descriptive actions for breathing, yet I don't know of one yet. Maybe it's best to just go see a professional in the area of yoga or rebirthing. Otherwise, the book is very interesting and valuable for a person who is unaware of breath and eastern philosophy. I just felt misled about its contents, so maybe that's my fault; I'm just trying to tell you.

Rating:
Summary: Eatern Breathing Philosophy
Review: I picked up this book (1905 edition) as a martial artist hoping to help me with my KI breathing excerices. This book improved my breathing technique introduced me to yoga and eastern thought. "Science of Breath" provides a great balance between western theories and eastern ideas. This book would be a good aid to anyone in the martial arts or those who hust study KI.

Rating:
Summary: Science of Breath review
Review: Swami Rama has never failed to write a book which I valued. For this title, he shares the authorship with 2 western authors. Their academic scientific portions contrast with Swami Rama's spiritual chapters. While all the information is certainly valid, the Swami divulges secrets not to be found easily elsewhere. He qualifies his statements by warning the reader that these mystical practices should only be attempted with an experienced teacher. Each time I read this book, I find something new that I missed in the prior reading. I attribute this to the knowledge gained between readings. This book is a must have for the serious seeker of enlightenment.

Rating:
Summary: Concise and easy to read
Review: The author of this text, Yogi Ramacharaka, is a mysterious individual but there is nothing mysterious about this practical and elegantly simple guide to pranayama, the art of yogic breathing. The beauty of this work is its blend of Western and Eastern theory. Historically, the author is thought to be a Western man, an English lawyer to be more exact, that traveled to America and wrote yogic and mystic texts under the name of a yogi he had met and studied with. Some however feel that the name Yogi Ramacharaka corresponds with a yogi of the Middle Ages who utilized the body and mind of the aforementioned lawyer and channeled the information into him to be written for the benefit of the Western world. There is ample evidence for both theories in that at multiple instances in the text, the plural first person form "we" is used to denote authorship and the fact that there is a growing number of yogis who feel that the great Yogi Ramacharaka has attempted or has successfully channeled information and teachings into them. After reading this compact staple of breathing manuals, you'll wish you could channel the mind of Yogi Ramacharaka too. The Western medical student will learn just as much as the die hard student of Eastern internal arts. The exercises outlined within the pages are potent; any athlete can benefit from them as well as anyone suffering from maladies of the upper respiratory system. Personally, I used to suffer from chronic upper respiratory problems such as sinusitus and bronchitis. After being introduced to yoga and pranayama with my understanding peaking since the completion of the studies of Yogi Ramacharaka's books, my condition has considerably lessened and my overall physical and mental vigor has doubled. Buy this book immediately. You will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Very Bad Copy
Review: The book is excellent and a good introduction to the basis beginning of Yoga. The current offering of the book is a very bad copy of the original book and is marginal for reading. The original book was obviously copied on a copier and the pages inserted into a soft cover book. Do not buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: one of the best. . .
Review: This book doesn't add any technique that other pranayama books don't have. It does have some new information about the science of how the breath works. I really liked the part about active nostrils, and how to change your dominant nostril. If you are interested in this then maybe take a look at holotropic breathwork for the rest of the story of what different breathing does to your brain.

Rating:
Summary: Superb Start to Yoga
Review: This book is a potential life changer and will make you rethink the way you think about health. Breath as discussed by Rama and the others is revealed as THE center to all life, our life, Yoga, and to how "happy' we are in both body and mind (i.e., OM). What's great is getting a nice Western emprical discussion of the physiology of breath, and then getting Rama's discussion of breath in the context of Yoga. Another cool part is understanding how important the nose is to breathing and health. A very practical and fascinating book and a great beginning to Yoga.

Rating:
Summary: The Real Thing
Review: This book was recomended to me by another jazz vocalist whoindicated that it would give me more insight into how I breath whilesinging. I took her advice with a grain of salt, but after reading itall the way through, I came to the conclusion it should be mandatoryreading for all vocalists and all people for that matter...While mostvocalists are concerned with the two schools of western breathing,they are overlooking an entire approach that trancends both of thesemethods. This is not one of those new aged relics that glorifieseastern philosophy and religion. This is the real thing. You will notsee this book on Oprah, and it was not written by a Westerner. Checkit out..