Preksha Dhyana Human Body Part 2

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 16

Complete Breathing
The difference between bad breathing and scientifically complete breathing lies mostly in the method and its practice.
First thing is to breathe properly. In fact, however, it is to re-learn because everyone did know it in one's infancy. Because one is perpetually under stress and tension, breathing is usually incomplete, hasty, superficial and sometimes even gasping. Logicallly, therefore, proper breathing, depends firstly on removal of tension. Hard (tense) abdominal muscles en. cumber every breath. Immobilised diaphragm and inflexible rib-cage hinders the entry of air into the lungs more efficiently than a tight belt or a corset. First step, therefore, is to remove the internal girdle by relaxing these muscles.
Exhalation : Scientific breathing begins with a slow, calm and complete exhalation. If the inspiratory muscles are relaxed, air begins to be expelled from the chest by its own weight. Contraction of the abdominal muscles then helps to evacuate the lungs furhter by raising the diaphragm. Because of the spongy nature of the lung-tissues, there is always a residue of used air in the lungs. This residual air, together with the fresh air taken in by inhalation, makes up the actual air available for further processing. More complete the evacuation, greater the volume of fresh air to enter the lungs and purer the air in contact with alveolar surfaces. Unless we first breathe out fully, it is impossible to breathe in correctly.
Inhalation : Having emptied the lungs the next step is to fill them up to the maximum extent, the total volume of air which the lungs are able to contain is known as the vital capacity, which is about 6 litres. Before one can contemplate to increase this capacity, full use must be made of what is already available.
Mention has already been made of 3 sets of muscles, surrounding the lungs, which take part in the breathing process. They are :
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