Indolence is the mother of ugliness. No one who realises the absolute
necessity to Health of a sufficient supply of fresh air can wonder at
the rarity of Beauty in the world, if he considers that nineteen people
out of every twenty are _too lazy to breathe properly_.
It is estimated that there are from 75 to 100 cubic inches of air which
always remain in a man’s lungs. About an equal amount of “supplemental”
air remains after an _ordinary_ expiration; and only 20 to 30 inches of
what Professor Huxley calls “tidal air” passes in and out. But this
“tidal air” can be largely increased in amount by the habit of breathing
deeply and _slowly_, whereby an additional supply of oxygen is supplied
to the lungs, which is a thousand times better for the health than
quinine, iron pills, or any other tonic. There are few persons whose
health and personal appearance would not be improved vastly if they
would take _several daily meals_ of fresh air—consisting of 20-50 deep
inspirations in a park or some other place where the air is pure and
bracing. Slowly inhale as much air as you can get into the lungs without
discomfort (avoiding a strain), and then exhale again just as slowly.
After a while the habit will be formed of _constantly_ breathing more
deeply than formerly, both awake and asleep; thus bringing into regular
use a larger part of the lungs’ surface. It is the slight sense of
fatigue at first accompanying deep breathing which prevents most people
from enjoying its benefits; but when once this natural indolence is
overcome the reward of deep breathing is analogous to the delicious
exhilaration which follows a brisk walk or a cold bath.
It is important to note that all breathing, whether deep or ordinary,
should be done through the nose, as thus the air is warmed before it
reaches the delicate lungs, and the mucous membranes remain moist, thus
preventing those disagreeable enemies of refreshing sleep—a dry mouth
and snoring.
Habitual deep breathing adds to Personal Beauty not only by exercising
the muscles of the chest, which thus becomes more arched and prominent
relatively to the abdomen, but also by throwing back the neck and head
and compelling the whole body to assume a straight, military attitude.
We are all taught as children, says Professor Kollmann, to hold
ourselves straight; but rarely is the information added that the best
way to secure an erect, manly bearing and a dignified gait is by
cultivating the habit of deep breathing. “It is worthy of notice that
forcible breathing, such as results from a correct bearing, from
prolonged sojourn and exercise in the open air, in hunting, gymnastic
exercises, riding, etc., not only increases the chest for the moment,
but permanently.... There are proofs in abundance that even with young
persons of eighteen to twenty years, the whole circumference of the
chest is capable of considerable widening under such circumstances.”
A medical writer, referring to the fact that children frequently become
round-shouldered from sitting for hours and bending over a desk, makes
these very sensible suggestions:—
“In the first place, the lungs should be fully expanded by drawing in
all the air that is possible; this process will be aided by throwing the
shoulders well back, and you should encourage your children to do this
frequently in the open air when going to and coming from school.
Children are easily bribed, and we would suggest to school teachers a
simple and effective way of accomplishing this desirable end. This
forcible expansion of the lungs will enlarge the chest and increase its
circumference. Then let the teacher, at the beginning of the session,
measure each child’s chest and record the circumference, then explain
and demonstrate to them how to forcibly fill the lungs, and offer a
premium at the end of the session to the child who shall have most
increased the circumference of his chest; make it worth their while to
expand their lungs, as much so as we now do for them to expand their
minds, and the result will be wonderful.”