Science of Breath
by Alan Hymes, Rama, Rudolph Ballentine
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Book Reviews of Science of Breath
Book Review: Review by former physiology Teaching Fellow and yoga practioner
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent beginning book on breathing for anyone who is interested in yoga. It covers the importance of breathing, basic respiratory physiology and the relationship between science and yoga.
The authors of this book are credible and have excellent professional credentials and established practices. They are associated with the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA that has a long standing commitment to getting science, modern psychology and yoga together. Many of their publications are excellent and certainly this one is as well.
I think any yoga practioner at any level will benefit from this book and even very experienced people will learn a lot. As the title suggests, this book focuses on the practical aspects of breathing and provides a good foundation or launching point for moving on to pranayama practice. However, the value add is the tie in to modern science.
As part of my living, I do workshops on such topics as meditation, pranayama and biofeedback, loving-kindness practices and other topics that integrate East and West. Before becoming involved in psychology and spirituality, I was both a research scientist and Teaching Fellow in Physiology. While I am not an expert at respiratory physiology or a top pranayama practioner, I have an established yoga practice and enough expertise to judge the merit of this book.
If you are serious about the breath and especially about pranayama, I would pick up "Light on Pranayama" by B.K.S. Iyengar. This book is very comprehensive and covers the physiology of the various breathing practices in great depth. If you are looking at breating for relaxation, you may also want to consider some of the meditation resources listed on my listmania lists. I also have a yoga resource list that might be helpful for those interested in pranayama. Another book in the pranayama vein that is quite popular is "The Yoga of Breath" by Richard Rosen.
In summary, this is a good book on the basics of breathing as a foundation for a yoga practice. It provides the basic concepts required to move on to more advanced breathing techniques such as pranayama.
Book Review: Know your goals
Summary: 3 Stars
I have a few problems with this book. From reading the book's description and summary, I assumed the book would be full of breathing techniques to master the mind and body. Unfortunately, only the last fourth of the book accounts for actual techniques. The rest is scientific explanations of how breathing can be beneficial, which I already knew, otherwise I wouldn't have bought the book. It seems to me that people are already interested in using the breathing techniques; they don't need to be sold on why it helps, as the book does in the first three fourths. Furthermore, the last fourth gives fairly undetailed descriptions of the techniques, I felt; or says these techniques should only be done with a professional teacher. So this makes the book somewhat useless for someone who is ready and willing to start mastering the techniques of breathing. I recommend a book that gives painfully descriptive actions for breathing, yet I don't know of one yet. Maybe it's best to just go see a professional in the area of yoga or rebirthing. Otherwise, the book is very interesting and valuable for a person who is unaware of breath and eastern philosophy. I just felt misled about its contents, so maybe that's my fault; I'm just trying to tell you.Book Review: Know your goals
Summary: 3 Stars
I have a few problems with this book. From reading the book's description and summary, I assumed the book would be full of breathing techniques to master the mind and body. Unfortunately, only the last fourth of the book accounts for actual techniques. The rest is scientific explanations of how breathing can be beneficial, which I already knew, otherwise I wouldn't have bought the book. It seems to me that people are already interested in using the breathing techniques; they don't need to be sold on why it helps, as the book does in the first three fourths. Furthermore, the last fourth gives fairly undetailed descriptions of the techniques, I felt; or says these techniques should only be done with a professional teacher. So this makes the book somewhat useless for someone who is ready and willing to start mastering the techniques of breathing. I recommend a book that gives painfully descriptive actions for breathing, yet I don't know of one yet. Maybe it's best to just go see a professional in the area of yoga or rebirthing. Otherwise, the book is very interesting and valuable for a person who is unaware of breath and eastern philosophy. I just felt misled about its contents, so maybe that's my fault; I'm just trying to tell you.Book Review: sue me, i'm weird
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is a blend of western science and ideas and practices from yoga, but mostly science. I was able to learn about the science that might justify practices like "alternate nostril breathing." I learned about how flow through each nostril varies depending on time of day, mood and brain activity.
I became so fascinated I went on to use the neti pot (for cleaning nasal passages). Then I learned how to pass a sterilized string from one nostril, to the back of the throat, and then out the other nostril (for cleaning). The book mentions such things.
I suppose I obsessed on this because I realized through reading this book that one nasal passage always seemed blocked. And indeed, after visiting a doctor, it turns out I have one nostril significantly blocked by a polyp.
But this is probably an example of how these books can get you in trouble, or waste your time. The book helped me learn and discover something important about myself, but I might have caused myself some damage. I probably should have consulted a doctor much earlier in the process.
But still, a good book.
Book Review: learn how to breathe
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a little skeptical at first. An entire book on how to breathe? I've been doing it my whole life, so I'm pretty good at it, right? What else could there possibly be to breathing?
Lots.
This book not only covers various breathing techniques, but also the science behind it. It covers the nasal cavity and lungs and how they work. Also, how breathing through individual nostrils have distinct effects on the physical and psychological self.
This book is also a great introduction/explanation to the breathing techniques used in yoga. Many yogis have said proper breathing is the first step toward enlightnment. This book shows you how.