Volume of breath, blood oxygenation etc.

[Guest guest]

There's lots of good information on this subject in David Coulters

wonderful new book, the Anatomy of Hatha Yoga - volumes of air in the

lungs and their effect on CO2 and O2 levels in the bloodstream in

various yoga breathing techniques; why ujayi breathing is a good idea;

psycho-physiological effects of different pranayama techniques;

dangers of trying advanced pranayamas too soon / without supervision;

potential dangers of techniques that can over-oxygenate the blood etc.

etc. etc. I'm not going to try to summarise what he says (I'm at work

and don't have the book with me), but if you're seriously interested

in these subjects I recommend checking it out.

 

It isn't specifically an ashtanga book, but it's one of the best

discussions I've ever seen of the physical aspects of asana and

pranayama practice, and I recommend it very highly to anybody who's

serious about their practice and not too afraid of pushing their

theory:practice quotient above the 1% limit