Yoga Breathing Techniques

tomtrum · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 6:36 pm Post subject: Yoga Breathing Techniques

In one of his You Tube "teaching" tapes, Maynard Ferguson discussed his approach to playing. One of the issues he hit upon was developing the proper breathing techniques. He recommended that we should consult a book on "Yoga's Approach to Breathing" (my paraphrasing here). Can anyone tell me what the title of the book he was referred to as the tape got a bit fuzzy or garbled around that time. Getting the Yoga book might make interesting reading - and maybe there is something valuable there for me to adopt. Thanks
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DavesTrumpet · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 6:58 pm Post subject:

I'm pretty sure it's the 1903 book, The Hindu-Yogi Science Of Breath, by Yogi Ramacharaka. It's in public domain can be found on Project Guttenberg:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13402
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connormckay · New Member Joined: 23 Oct 2014 Posts: 6

Try taking a few Bikram Yoga classes. It could improve your breathing incredibly!

gelatinshoehorn · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:29 pm Post subject:

Agreed. Skip the book. Take a class. Yoga is not the kind of thing you should try to learn from a book. Kinda like trumpet playing: get a teacher.
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crzytptman · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:09 pm Post subject:

tworld · Regular Member Joined: 13 Sep 2012 Posts: 84 Location: CA

Why not read, and take yoga classes too.

The basis of breathing is: 1. Posture. 2. Relaxed Focus.

Posture.

Breathing is like Golf. Without the correct form, or posture, success is limited.

In yoga, posture is referred to as "asana". Asana is the first step in yoga.
There are many "asanas" for many purposes, but the core asana is the position where the spine is straight, shoulders relaxed. It is not a stiff position, but rather, a relaxed position. In yoga meditation, it is possible to be comfortable in this position for extended periods of time, without moving at all. Try it. Find that position where the spine is straight, shoulders relaxed. Just by being in this position, you feel relaxed, free, and concentrated at the same time. Energy flows up and down the spine with no restrictions. No discomfort intrudes. You can remain quite still, and continue to feel comfortable.

Breathing.

Once you find that position, close your eyes and focus your attention on your breath. Simply take note of your breathing. Let the thoughts that enter your mind pass through, and return your attention to your breathing. Try this for 15 seconds at first. Then try again, and increase the time. Simply note the breath coming in, then going out. Let the thoughts pass, do not hold on to them or react to them. Return your focus to your breathing. Focus your attention on your breathing. When your attention wanders bring it back to focus on your breathing. Go for longer and longer periods with perfect concentration.

This is the basis of breathing. You find that you do not have to do anything. You breath automatically, with no effort or thought. By continuing to practice this for longer and longer periods, you develop fierce concentration out of relaxation, which puts you in a perfect position to handle the technical and musical challenges, and experience the music fully.

Bring this to your playing and breathing will take care of its self for the most part.

A prominent symphonic player I studied with had me do similar exercises at the beginning of the practice session.

I recently watched 2 relevant Berlin Phil Sara Willis videos on YouTube.

Phil Myers, NY Phil principal horn talks about how he approaches solos from a point of being empty so he is free to be filled completely with the experience of the music.

Christian Lindberg, at the age of 35 after studying every conceivable method of breathing, finally discovered yoga breathing and has never turned back.

Phil Meyers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-m20Ao2rb4 go to 24:15

Christian Lindberg
https://www.youtube.com/user/hornmatters/search?query=lindberg go to 33:30

jungledoc · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 12:22 am Post subject:

Wow. I'd have never thought it was so complex. All these decades I thought it was sucking air in, letting it out, repeating. Now I find out that I need to read books and take classes. Who would have known that breathing was so complicated?
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kehaulani · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 12:57 am Post subject:

Rapier232 · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 2:39 am Post subject:

DavesTrumpet · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 4:59 am Post subject:

DavesTrumpet · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 5:04 am Post subject:

Somewhere out in my garage I have a stack of old 1980s MF newsletters and I recall in one where he talks about the cleansing breath and some other techniques for opening up and supporting our breathing. If I come across this material, I'll post it here. He also mentioned/demonstrated this same technique in a master class I attended in the 80s. Cool stuff really.
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crzytptman · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 6:47 am Post subject:

I have no judgment of whether taking a yoga class is good or bad. It's something one could do if one wanted to experience what a yoga teacher does. One may find it beneficial.

The question was, what is the book that Maynard was talking about? As was already answered, it is "The Science of Breath" by Ramacharaka. It was written in the early 1900's by a Yogi. I found it helpful. Not in how to breathe, but in ways to counteract the limitations on natural function imposed by modern western lifestyle. Of course we can all breathe. We can walk too - to the couch, car, desk etc. Much different than what our bodies were designed to do. Many problems or issues would likely solve themselves if people walked as much as they were designed to. Oh, and breathed as they were designed to as well.

I believe Maynard showed the book to Bud Brisbois and Bobby Shew. Probably not worth reading . . .

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jungledoc · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 6:31 pm Post subject:

crzytptman · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 12:36 am Post subject:

I didn't know that you knew him. Did you show him your TR300?
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jungledoc · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:28 pm Post subject:

nvidal · Veteran Member Joined: 12 Aug 2014 Posts: 389

crzytptman · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 2:05 pm Post subject:

...
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crzytptman · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 2:06 pm Post subject:

nvidal · Veteran Member Joined: 12 Aug 2014 Posts: 389

No one is talking about Korean deep breathing, imo, is absolutey the best for trumpet/brass playing, SUPERIOR to YOGA, simply because it's ALL about acceleration! To run through a wall, one must have every intent before charging at it, that the impact point is NOT the WALL but a few feet after it, so you follow through.

Detach yourself from emotion dear reader, and GO STUDY IT, before either chiming in with your worthless opinion of my well vetted thinking and statements. TRY IT, before you KNOCK IT.

Go ahead you losers who enjoy interfering with TRUMPET conversation.

The trumpet is absolutely the most challenging puzzle known to humanity. It would be much easier to learn without all the childish distraction. There are lurkers here who actually want to learn. I was one of the a decade ago;)

Korean breathing > Yoga breathing

poprishchin · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 3:13 pm Post subject: