The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-29
THE BREATHING FAD

'
ut is not all fad. or even half =
fad.
Scientists agree that the air con-
tains in itself the elements of human
food, if man only knew how to extract
them and combine them properly. 1t is
believed. too, that the suns rays convey
to earth the germs of all life-that they
are in the atmosphere. The more air
we can breathe, therefore, and the
purer it is. the more of both life and
nourishment we shall draw into US.
Hence the meaning is easily compre-
hended of Eleanor Kinks famous say
ing, Eat some air.
1t is not enough to breathe as the
quadrupeds do. We who have tntelli-
gence can improve on them. can de-
velop and increase the power. health,
endurance and beauty of our bodies till
they are the fit housing of immortal
souls. There is d breathing to be
learned that will of itself help lift us
to the plane of constant Joy and elias
ITCHY
The crown of womanhood is perfect
health. To gain this we should use all
the means at our command. Fortu-
nately the essential materials to this
end were also wisely ordained to be
the cheapest, and they are air and
water. The frequent bathing of the
body and the habit of drinking plenty
of water form an important part of
the beginning of wisdom toward get
ting perfect health. Next undoubtedly
comes habitual deep breathing, thor
ough aeration of the blood. You cannot
have this and wear tight corsets or
any combining bands about the waist.
1t is impossible. Let me give you the
process of breathing for health, not
merely for animal existence.
Have all your clothing entirely loose.
Then begin and fill yourself with air.
slowly, slowly. Make no effort to swell
your body 1t will swell itself if you
| just let it. Do not make any effort to
/ breathe with your nostrils. The nos
! trils are merely passages to let the
pure air in and the exhausted air out.
The breathing effort itself should be
made from the very center of your
| body.
Note how the great. splendid bulk of
air you take in raises your chest and
enlarges it, This is the true lifting
of the chest you read so much about.
After you have noted how the long deep
1 breath lifts your chest to a beautiful
fullness. resolve to yourself that hence
forth you will make yourself habit
ually carry your chest in that noble
| elevated manner and then do it. The
| lifted chest must be kept so by the
muscles about the waist, which some
women allow to sag and weaken in so
| disgraceful a manner.
After you have slowly drawn in all
the air you can hold-and you must
feel as though your whole body is full
| of air from your toes up-then proceed
to exhale. Do this slowly. taking fully
| as much time to exhale as you did to
| inhale. This is an important point in
breathing instructions, that we shall
| exhale breath as slowly as we inhale
it. Oriental teachers enjoin this spe-
cially on their disciples
Acquire the habit of breathing as
above and you will wonder at the ex-
| cellent results that follow Have the
air always the purest you. can get. Half
of the colds, grips and pneumonia at
lacks would be avoided if people venti-
lated their sleeping rooms properly
Immortal human beings ought at least
to provide for themselves as good ven
tilation as turfmen provide for a race
| horse. 1t will help you much to think
always that when you breathe deeply
and fully you are taking in food in its
purest form, which is the actual fact
Remember this and nourish yourself
duly.
When you are very weary and nerve
less, try the effect of the following
breathing process: Have your clothing
entirely free. Lie fiat upon your back
out straight. every muscle in your body
relaxed. Especially let the muscles
around your forehead eyes, mouth and
the base of the brain lie so loose that
you are not conscious of them. After
having thus relaxed, begin and breathe
slowly and fully from the lowest point
of your body, at the very tip of the
spine. Think of the breath as being
drawn to this point while you inhale
Then exhaie slowly and think of a
nerve current as passing from the tin
of your spine up the spinal cord into
your brain. If you do this and note
carefully you will feel an actual vibra-
tory sensation quivering at the base OF
your brain and UP into your head and
eyes. Practice this breathing five tc
ten minutes at a time, especially after
: you are done work in the evening, and
you will find it exceedingly restful and
life giving. MARY GOULD LYLE.
THE DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND