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CHAPTER III

THF. VARIOUS METHODS OF TAKING A COMPLETE BREATH

Description of my Ordinary Complete Breath (or the Relieving Deep-Breathing Exercise).

Thf. bcst breath is that which, in the easiest and most natural way, with the least strain of muscle or conscious etfort, and in the shortest space of time, gives the largest supply of fresli air and the most complete expulsion of vitiated air. My ordinary complete breath has already been explained in the various editions of “ My System," for men, for ladies, and for children. Ali the cxperience 1 have had sińce I wrote my first book, and all my later theoretical studies and practical examinations of thousands of living human beings, have confuTned my conviction that “ my complete breath ” is the most efficacious and, at the same time, the easiest form of dccp-brcathing. And being also the ąuickcst manner of completely inflating the lungs, it is the most useful for athletes and sportsmen. 1 will now describe it still morę fully than I did in my earlier works : Stand erect, with the body well balanced upon the whole of your feet. The hands shoukl rest on the hips, the shoul-ders thus being partly relieved of the weight of the arms. Lean the head very slightly back. Open the nostrils as wide as possible. Kaisc the lower ribs as far as possible outwards, and that chiefly to the sides, but also somewhat to the front, together with the breastbone. At the same time stretch the whole upper part cf the trunk upwards, and continue this stretching and lifting for a while after the lower ribs have been completely expanded. The air will then rush in and fili every part of the lungs. This combmed lifting and

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