Prana is a Sanskrit term meaning Absolute Energy. In this context prana is the principle of energy exhibited in all living things, which distinguishes them from a lifeless thing.
It may be considered as the active principle of life - vital force. It is found in all forms of life, from the most elementary from of plant life to the highest for of animal life. Prana is all evading.
It is found in all things having life and occult philosophy teaches that life is in all things - in every atom - the apparent lifelessness of some things being only a lesser degree of manifestation.
So prana is the name given to a universal principle which is the essence of all motion, force or energy, whether manifested in gravitation, electricity, the revolution of the planets, and all forms of life. It is in the air, but it is not the air nor one of its chemical constituents. Animal and plant life breath it in with the air.
We are constantly inhaling the air charged with prana. In ordinary breathing we absorb and extract a normal supply of prana, but by controlled and regulated breathing, we are able to extract greater supply, which is stored away in the brain and nerve centres to be used when necessary - in much the same way as a battery stores electricity.
By certain forms of breathing it is possible to establish certain relations with the supply of prana and draw on it for what you require. Not only is it possible to strengthen all parts of the body in this way, but the brain itself may receive increased energy from the same source, and latent faculties be developed and psychic powers attained.
The oxygen in the air is appropriated by the blood and is made use of by the circulatory system. The prana in the air is appropriated by the nervous system, and is used in its work. And as the oxygenated blood is carried to all parts of the system, building up and replenishing, so is the prana carried to all parts of the nervous system, adding strength and vitality.
Four classifications of breathing Respiration can be classified into four general methods:
High Breathing
Mid Breathing
Low Breathing
Complete Breathing
High Breathing
This form of breathing is more commonly know as Clavicular Breathing or Collar-one Breathing. In breathing in this way, one elevates the ribs and raises the collar-bone and shoulders at the same time, drawing in the abdomen and pushing its contents up against the diaphragm, which in turn is raised.
The upper part of the chest and lungs, which is the smallest, is used, and consequently only a minimum amount of air enters the lungs. In addition, because the diaphragm is raised, there can be no expansion in that direction. In this way a maximum amount effort is used to obtain a minimum amount of benefit. Not a good idea!
In fact, high breathing is probably the worst form of breathing and requires the greatest expenditure of energy for the smallest amount of benefit. Unfortunately, it is the way most of us in the Western world do actually breath.
If you have doubts about this, try expelling all the sir from the lungs, then standing erect, with hands at the side, raise the shoulders and collar-bone and inhale. You will find that the amount of air inhaled is far below normal. Then inhale a full breath and see what happens!
Mid Breathing
This method of respiration is often called Rib Breathing, or Intercostal Breathing and, although better than high breathing, is far inferior to either Low Breathing or Complete Breathing. In Mid Breathing the diaphragm is pushed upward, and the abdomen drawn in. The ribs are raised somewhat, and the chest is partially expanded.
Low Breathing
This form of respiration is far better than either of the two previous forms and many Western writers have extolled its merits and have called it Abdominal Breathing, Deep Breathing, Diaphragmic Breathing and so on.
In Low Breathing, the lungs are given freer play than in the methods already mentioned, and consequently more air is inhaled. But even with Low Breathing, the lungs do not become completely filled with air - at best, only a portion of the lung spaced is filled. With High Breathing only the upper portion of the lungs is filled. Mid Breathing fills only the lower middle and a portion of the upper parts. Low Breathing fills only the lower and middle parts.
The Complete Breath
Complete breathing brings into play the entire respiratory apparatus, every part of the lungs, every air-cell, every respiratory muscle. The entire respiratory organism responds to this method of breathing, and the maximum amount of benefit is derived from the minimum expenditure of energy. The chest cavity is increased to its normal limits in all directions and every part of the machinery performs its natural work and functions.
The lower ribs are controlled by the diaphragm which draws them slightly downward, while other muscles hold them in place and the intercostal muscles, which increases the capacity of the upper chest to its fullest extent.
The Complete Breath in Practice
It is fundamental that the Complete Breath is mastered in order to obtain results from the other forms of breath discussed in this article. This will require work, time and patience, but without these things nothing is ever accomplished.
The Complete Breath is not a forced or abnormal thing, but on the contrary it is a going back to first principles -- a return to nature. It may be surprising to learn, but the Complete Breath does not necessarily call for the complete filling of the lungs at every inhalation. What is essential is that a series of full Complete Breaths are inhaled several times a day, whenever opportunity offers, in order to keep the system in good order.
The following exercise will give a clear idea of what the Complete Breath is:
Stand or sit erect. Breathing through the nostrils, inhale steadily, first filling the lower part of the lungs, which is accomplished by brining into play the diaphragm, which descending exerts a gentle pressure on the abdominal organs, pushing forward the front walls of the abdomen.
Then fill the middle part of the lungs, pushing out the lower ribs, breast-bone and chest.
Then fill the higher portion of the lungs, protruding the upper chest, thus lifting the chest, including the upper six or seven pairs of ribs. In the final movement, the lower part of the abdomen will be slightly drawn in, which movement gives the lungs a support and also helps to fill the highest part of the lungs.
It may seem that this breath consists of three distinct movements. This, however, is not the correct idea. The inhalation is continuous, the entire chest cavity from the lowered diaphragm to the highest point of the chest in the region of the collar-bone, being expanded with a uniform movement.
Avoid a jerky series of inhalations, and strive to attain a steady continuous action. Practice will soon overcome the tendency to divide the inhalation into three movements and result in a continuous breath.
Retain the breath a few seconds
Exhale quite slowly, holding the chest in a firm position, and drawing the abdomen in a little and lifting it upward slowly as the air leaves the lungs.
When the air is entirely exhaled, relax the chest and abdomen. A little practice will render this part of the exercise easy.
You will find it quite a help if you practice this breath before a large mirror, placing the hands lightly over the abdomen so that you may feel the movements. (wyldwytch.com)
