XXI. Pranic Exercises
We
have told you in other chapters of this book, how
Prana may be obtained from the air, food and water. We
have given you detailed instruction in breathing,
in eating, in the use of fluids. There remains but little more for us to say
upon the subject But before leaving it, we have
thought it well to give you a bit of the higher theory
and practice of Hatha Yoga, touching upon the
acquirement and distribution of Prana. We allude to
what has been called "Rythmic
Breathing," which is the keynote to much of the Hatha Yoga
practices.
All
is in vibration. From the tiniest atom to the greatest
sun, everything is in a state of vibration. There is
nothing in absolute rest in nature. A single atom
deprived of vibration would wreck the universe. In
incessant vibration the universal work is performed. Matter is being constantly
played upon by energy and countless forms and numberless
varieties result, and yet even the forms and varieties are not permanent. They begin to change the moment they are created, and
from them are born innumerable forms, which in turn
change and give rise to newer forms, and so on and on,
in infinite succession. Nothing is permanent in the
world of forms, and yet the great Reality it unchangeable.
Forms are but appearances-they come, they go, but the
Reality is eternal and unchangeable.
The atoms of
the human body are in constant vibration. Unceasing changes are occurring. In a few
months there is almost a complete change in the matter composing the body, and
scarcely a single atom now composing your body will be found in it a few months hence. Vibration, constant vibration.
Change, constant change.
In all vibration is to be found a
certain rhythm. Rhythm pervades the universe. The swing of the planets around
the sun; the rise and fall of the sea; the beating of the heart; the ebb and
flow of the tide; all follow rhythmic laws. The rays of the sun reach us; the rain descends upon us, in obedience to the
same law. All growth is but an exhibition of this law. All motion is a
manifestation of the law of rhythm.
Our bodies are as much subject to
rhythmic laws as is the planet in its revolution around the sun. Much of the
esoteric side of the Yogi Science of Breath is based upon this known principle
of nature. By falling in with the rhythm of the body, the Yogi manages to
absorb a great amount of Prana, which he disposes of to bring about results
desired by him. We will speak of this at greater length later on.
The body which
you occupy is like a small inlet running in to the land from the sea. Although
apparently subject only to its own laws, it is really subject to the ebb and
flow of the tides of the ocean. The great sea of life is swelling and receding,
rising and falling, and we are responding to its vibrations and rhythm. In a
normal condition we receive the vibration
and rhythm of the great ocean of life, and respond to it, but at times
the mouth of the inlet seems choked up with debris, and we fail to receive the
impulse from Mother Ocean, and inharmony manifests within us.
You
have heard how a note on a violin, if sounded repeatedly
and in rhythm, will start into motion vibrations
which will in time destroy a bridge. The same result is true when a regiment
of soldiers crosses a bridge, the order being always given to "break
step" on such an occasion, lest the
vibration bring down both bridge and regiment. These manifestations of
the effect of rhythmic motion will give you
an idea of the effect on the body of
rhythmic breathing. The whole system
catches the vibration and becomes in harmony with the will, which causes the
rhythmic motion of the lungs, and
while in such complete harmony will respond
readily to orders from the will. With the body thus attuned, the Yogi finds no difficulty in increasing the
circulation in any part of the body by an order from the will, and in the same way he can direct an increased current of nerve force to any part or
organ, strengthening and stimulating it.
In
the same way the Yogi by rhythmic breathing "catches the swing,"
as it were, and is able to absorb and
control a greatly increased amount of prana, which is then at the
disposal of his will. He can and does use it as a vehicle for sending forth
thoughts to others and for attracting to him all those whose thoughts are keyed in the same vibration. The phenomena
of telepathy, thought transference, mental healing,
mesmerism, etc., which subjects are creating such an interest in the
Western world at the present time, but which
have been known to the Yogis for centuries, can he greatly increased and
augmented if the person sending forth the thoughts will do so after rhythmic
breathing. Rhythmic breathing will increase the
value of mental healing, magnetic healing, etc., several hundred per cent.
In rhythmic
breathing the main thing to be acquired is the mental idea of rhythm. To those
who know anything of music, the idea of
measured counting is familiar. To others, the rhythmic step of the
soldier; "Left, right; left, right; left, right; one, two, three, four;
one, two, three, four," will convey the idea.
The
Yogi bases his rhythmic time upon a unit corresponding
with the beat of his heart. The heart beat varies in different persons,
but the heart beat unit of each person is
the proper rhythmic standard for that particular individual in his
rhythmic breathing. Ascertain your normal
heart beat by placing your fingers over your pulse, and then count:
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 1,2, 3, 4, 5,
6," etc., until the rhythm becomes firmly fixed in your mind. A
little practice will fix the rhythm, so that
you will be able to easily reproduce it. The beginner usually inhales in
about six pulse units, but he will be able to greatly increase this by
practice.
The Yogi rule for
rhythmic breathing is that the units of
inhalation and exhalation should be the same, while the units for retention
and between breaths should be one-half the number of those of inhalation and
exhalation.
The following
exercise in Rhythmic Breathing should be thoroughly mastered, as it forms the
basis of numerous other exercises, to which reference will be made later.
(1) Sit erect, in an easy posture, being sure to hold the chest, neck and
head as nearly in a straight line as possible, with shoulders
slightly thrown back and hands resting easily on the lap. In this position the weight of the body is largely supported by the
ribs and the position may be easily maintained. The Yogi has found that one cannot get the best effect of
rhythmic breathing with the chest drawn in and the abdomen protruding.
(2)
Inhale slowly a Complete Breath, counting six pulse units.
(3)
Retain, counting three pulse units.
(4)
Exhale slowly through the nostrils, counting six pulse units.
(5)
Count three pulse beats between breaths.
(6)
Repeat a number of times, but avoid fatiguing yourself at the
start.
(7)
When you are ready to close the exercise, practice the cleansing breath, which will rest you and cleanse
the lungs.
After a little
practice you will be able to increase the
duration of the inhalations and exhalations, until about fifteen pulse
units are consumed. In this increase,
remember that the units for retention and between breaths is one-half the
units for inhalation and exhalation.
Do not overdo yourself in your effort to increase the duration
of the breath, but pay as much attention as possible
to acquiring the "rhythm," as that is more important than the length of
the breath. Practice and try until you get
the measured "swing" of the movement, and until you can
almost "feel" the rhythm of the
vibratory motion throughout your whole body. It will require a little practice and perseverance, but your pleasure
at your improvement will make the task an easy one. The Yogi is a most patient and persevering man,
and his great attainments are due largely to the possession of these
qualities.
PRANA GENERATING,
Lying
flat on the floor or bed, completely relaxed, with hands resting lightly
over the Solax Plexus (over the pit of the
stomach, where the ribs begin to separate),
breathe rhythmically. After the rhythm is fully established will that each inhalation shall draw in an increased supply of prana or vital energy
from the Universal supply, which
will be taken up by the nervous
system and stored in the Solar Plexus. At each exhalation will that the prana or vital energy shall be distributed all over the body, to every
organ and part; to every muscle, cell
and atom; to nerve, artery and vein; from the top of your head to the soles of your feet; invigorating, strengthening
and stimulating every nerve; recharging every nerve center; sending energy, force and strength all over
the system. While exercising the
will, try to form a mental picture
of the inrushing prana, coming in through the lungs and being taken up at once by the Solar Plexus, then
with the exhaling effort, being sent to all
parts of the system, down to the finger tips and down to the toes. It is not
necessary to use the Will with an
effort. Simply commanding that which you wish to produce and then making the mental picture of it is all
that is necessary. Calm command with the
mental picture is far better than forcible willing, which only dissipates force needlessly. The above
exercise is most helpful and greatly
refreshes and strengthens the nervous system and produces a restful feeling
all over the body. It is especially
beneficial in cases where one is tired or feels
a lack of energy.
CHANGING THE CIRCULATION.
Lying
down or sitting erect, breathe rhythmically, and with
the exhalations direct the circulation to any part you
wish, which may be suffering from imperfect circulation. This is effective
in cases of cold feet or in cases of headache,
the blood being sent downward in
both cases, in the first case warming the feet, and in the latter, relieving the brain from too great
pressure. You will often feel a warm
feeling in the legs as the circulation
moves downward. The circulation is largely under the control of the will and rhythmic breathing renders the
task easier.
RECHARGING.
If
you feel that your vital energy is at a low ebb, and
that you need to store up a new supply quickly, the best
plan is to place the feet close together (side by side,
of course) and to lock the fingers of both hands in
any way that seems the most comfortable. This closes the circuit, as it were,
and prevents any escape of prana through the
extremities. Then breathe rhythmically a few times, and you
will feel the effect of the recharging.
BRAIN STIMULATION.
The
Yogis have found the following exercise most useful in stimulating the action
of the brain for the purpose of producing clear
thinking and reasoning. It has a wonderful effect in
clearing the brain and nervous system, and those engaged
in mental work will find it most useful to them, both in the direction of enabling them to do better
work and also as a means of refreshing the mind and clearing it after arduous
mental labor.
Sit in an erect posture,
keeping the spinal column straight, and the eyes well to the front, letting the
hands rest on the upper part of the legs.
Breathe rhythmically, but instead of breathing through both nostrils, as
in the ordinary exercises, press the left nostril close with the thumb, and
inhale through the right nostril.
Then remove the thumb, and close
the right nostril with the finger, and
then exhale through the left
nostril. Then, without changing the
fingers, inhale through the left nostril, and changing fingers, exhale through
the right. Then inhale through right and exhale through left, and so on,
alternating nostrils as above mentioned,
closing the unused nostril with the thumb or forefinger. This is one of
the oldest forms of Yogi breathing, and is quite important and valuable, and is
well worthy of acquirement. But it is
quite amusing to the Yogis to know that to the Western world this method is
often held out as being the "whole secret" of Yogi Breathing. To the minds of many Western readers,
"Yogi Breathing" suggests nothing more than a picture of a Hindu,
sitting erect, and alternating nostrils in
the act of breathing. "Only this
and nothing more." We trust that
this little work will open the eyes of the Western world to the great
possibilities of Yogi Breathing, and the numerous methods whereby it may be
employed.
YOGI GRAND PSYCHIC
BREATH.
The Yogis have a favorite form of psychic breathingwhich they
practice occasionally, to which has been given a Sanscrit term of which the above
is a general
equivalent. We have given it last, as it requires
practice on the part of the student in the line of rhythmic breathing and mental imagery, which he
has now acquired by means of the preceding exercises. The general principles of the Grand Breath may be
summed up in the old Hindu saying:
"Blessed is the Yogi who can
breathe through his bones." This exercise will fill the entire system with prana, and the student will emerge from it with every bone,
muscle, nerve, cell, tissue, organ
and part energized and attuned by the prana and the rhythm of the
breath. It is a general housecleaning of
the system, and he who practices it
carefully will feel as if he had been given a new body, freshly created,
from the crown of his head to the tips of
his toes. We will let the exercise speak for itself.
(1) Lie
in a relaxed position, at perfect ease.
(2) Breathe rhythmically until the rhythm is per fectly established.
(3) Then,
inhaling and exhaling, form the mental image of the breath being drawn up through the bones of the legs, and then forced out
through them;
then through the bones of the arms; then through the top of the skull; then through the stomach; then through the reproductive region; then as if
it were traveling upward and downward along
the spinal col umn; and then as if the breath were being inhaled and exhaled through every pore of the skin,
the whole body being filled with prana and life.
(4) Then
(breathing rhythmically) send the cur rent of prana to the Seven Vital Centers, in turn, as follows, using the mental picture as in previous
exercises:
(a)
To the forehead.
(b)
To the back of the head.
(c)
To the base of the brain.
(d)
To the Solar Plexus.
(e)
To the Sacral Region (lower part
of the spine).
(f)
To the region of the navel.
(g)
To the reproductive region.
Finish by sweeping the current of prana, to and fro, from head to feet,
several times. (5) Finish with
Cleansing Breath.
|