Here, widely known yoga instructor Donna Farhi offers a refreshingly simple and practical guide to reestablishing proper breathing techniques that can dramatically improve health, posture, outlook, and insight.

During infancy most of us breathed with complete ease. Since then, however, we have unconsciously altered our breathing in response to stress and other demands in our lives. Now, rediscover the wonders and freedom of unrestricted breathing. In this accessible and comprehensive manual you will learn how to get in touch with your own lost natural breathing so that you can:

·    develop effective strategies for using your breathing to relax your body in stressful situations and calm your mind during trying times

·    learn how to enhance your sexual pleasure, develop your concentration, and cultivate inner peace

·    use safe and easily learned techniques to treat asthma, depression, eating disorders, insomnia, pain, fatigue, headaches, and to quit smoking and a wide variety of other debilitating conditions . . . and much more.

With more than 75 photos and illustrations to illuminate concepts and make exercises clear, The Breathing Book is a long overdue toolchest—a thorough and inspiring program that you can tailor to your specific needs.

Donna Farhi, who has been a contributing editor for Yoga Journal, is a registered movement therapist and yoga teacher who has taught around the world.

How Do You Know When You Are Breathing Improperly?

In general, you’ll feel a great deal of tension in your upper body. You’ll tend to accumulate tension in your neck and shoulders and between your shoulder blades in your upper back. You may even feel tension in your jaw, facial muscles, and around your eyes, possibly in the form of a headache. These are but a few of the symptoms of poor breathing.... No massage or physical therapy will remedy this chronic tension for it will be recapitulated the moment you continue breathing poorly.