The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-04
The Much Talked of rhythmic Breath

The Much Talked of rhythmic Breath
ing
The orientais have many theories
in regard to the body and life that
seem startling to the Western mind.
Time has proven some of these
theories 10 be truth. And there is
such change to-day in the mental
attitude toward new ideas. that many
of these Eastern theories, that "A hun
drcd or so years ago would have re-
ceiYed no attention whatever are to-
day received with at least an open
mind Many are willing TO listen; some,
To test. 1t is being understood that
truth comes in many forms and
through vasious channels. and not
only through some one medium Sc
lected or approved by ourselves. Those
whom we may have looked upon as
outside the pale have more OF truth
than we.
one Of the beliefs Of this Eastern
world which Is beginning to ind its
way westward Is the matter or rhyth-
mic breathing. Instead of pooh-pooh-
ing ii as all nonsense, and foolishness
as We might have done in the past.
we do not now pass judgment on it
first aud examine il afteTward. Many
Z
the good in II tho orientsls claim.
According to these students In the
East. everything In tho world is in
vibration. Science seems to bear this
out. We know that heat and light
and sound and many other things
are matters OF vibratory waves. Whe-
Their this Is the ultimate truth or not
% course no one can say. But we
do know that vibration gives a power
not possible without IT. Every one
knows that when soldiers cross
bridge they have 20 break step be-
cause the vibrations their rhythmic
steps would set UP might destroy the
bridge.
Upon these facts Of universal VI
bratioh and its power. the orientals
have founded their idea OF rhythmic
breathing and its value. Put this
swing. this rhythm. into the body,
they say. and you VIII increase It's
power marvelousiy. In fact. the things
they say that one c4n do when one
has mastered rhythmic breathing seem
incredible. Whether one would wish
to go to these lengths or not is OF
course Il matter for the individual to
decide. hut IL additional force can
he gained for everyday work BY
, rhythmic breathing, 1t certainly would
be worth while to acquire 1t.
Rhythmic breathing does not seem
easy TO learn, at least 10 those not
/ acquainted with oriental lore. Most
of US have some idea Of rhythm. We
know it in music, or If We are entirely
unfamiliar with music, the regular
beat Of those Eeeping step gives 1t.
But to swing this idea of rhythm from
these familiar matters TO the heart
beat and the breath Is not SO easy.
For these are what rhythmic breath
ing are concerned with.
one who understands Rhythmic
/ breathing gives these directions for
/ acquiring it. Place the fingers on
/ the pulse aud get the heartbeat, Do
this until this beat IL perfectly fami-
/ liar, even without the aid OF the
! pulse. Then inhale for a certain num-
/ her, 81 heart beats. tsosd the breath
for half this number. exhais during
the full number. and rest between
! breaths the half count again. For In
/ stance, If you iuhale while the heart
/ beats ten times. hold the breath for
I count five before taking another
! breath, These proportions must be
I kept right II the heart beats twenty
I times while jrAA2s4ling. 81 hap. hold the
! breath for ten. and SO on. When one
/ has mastered this one has the body
| in vibration.
/ 1T needs to lac },Factieed until IL can
/ he done almost unConsciously. One
/ wants To feel the wing. the vibration
! and one wants t. master 1t SO com
pletclN that the mind is not dis
tracted with the counting and the