Without having to lay claim to a vast knowledge of medicine one can discover that all repeated exercise tends to strengthen the organ that is employed.
Thus, well-directed and carefully practised breathing gives the heart a stronger beat and facilitates the action of the lungs.
From these arises a general feeling of physical well-being, which tends to the preservation of good health and stores up the energy we need to carry out our resolves.
It is, then, advisable to devote several minutes every day to breathing exercises, not merely automatic, but purposeful and under thorough control.
To accomplish this there are two methods.
The first, very easy of comprehension, is to lie down on one's back and to breathe deeply with the mouth closed and the nostrils dilated.
As much air as can be held must be taken into the lungs, then the mouth must be opened and the air must be allowed to escape gradually.
During this operation one should pay particular attention to expanding the walls of the chest, while flattening the stomach.
About twenty deep respirations are required to accomplish the desired effect.
Little by little the lungs will dilate and one will unconsciously increase the length of the inspiration and the slowness with which the air is expelled.