Effects of the Eastern Art of Breathing

Summary

This chapter outlines the Eastern art of breathing and introduces a preliminary experiment related to breathing art involving bending and stretching of the legs. First, the ideological and cultural backgrounds of the Eastern art of breathing are summarized and ideas common to different types of the Eastern art of breathing are touched upon. Specifically, the paper refers to implications of the mind and the body in the art of breathing and stresses the importance of abdominal breathing and exhaling with a slow rhythm. Furthermore, the effects of the art of breathing involving physical movements are outlined. These effects include activation of blood circulation, stretching and relaxation of the muscles, graceful postures and movements, arousal of physical sensations, awareness of mood, image inducement, control of behavior and an understanding of certain things within one’s entire physical system.

The paper then alludes to the art of breathing which teaches how to breathe while doing leg stretching and bending. It also reports a preliminary experiment related to the effects of breathing art on blood circulation and changes in mood. A study comparing a slow and a fast tempo exercise is presented with preliminary results showing that different speeds cause various changes in the total amount of hemoglobin in the blood, as well as changes in mood. However, further research is required to determine whether these changes are a result of breathing.