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THE SCIENCE OF BREATHING difficult for us to practise as they do; but there are other reasons why we should study the science of breathing. The whole life depends on health and therefore it is necessary that we should breathe rightly. We must all obey the laws of life practically; mere theory will not do us any good. There are two classes into which the methods of breathing have been divided, the so-called abdominal and chest breathing. Now really speaking, no one ever breathes through the abdomen ; but by those who make this distinction between the methods of breathing, these terms are used. The sense in which they are understood by people, I will explain. The difference between these two systems of breathing is this ; when the breath is admitted into the system in such a way that there is expense only of the ribs and lungs, and not of the lower part of the thorax, then it is called the lung or chest breathing ; but if instead of expanding the cavity in the side derections we expand it in the upper and lower directions, the diaphragm, between the thorax and the stomach, is lowered, and the abdomen distended, and therefore this is called the abdominal breathing. Really speaking, of course, in both of these systems the breathing is done through the lungs. Our Hindu way is neither the one nor the other; it is both; taat is, we have to expand the lungs both ways, vertically and litterally, horizontally and also vertically, so that all the organs may be given the exercise which is necessary to them. The very constitution of the ribs, lungs and diaphragm require us to breathe in this way. The middle
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