The Tibetan Yoga of Breath: Breathing Practices for Healing the Body and Cultivating Wisdom

by Anyen Rinpoche, Allison Choying Zangmo

Heal the body, quiet the mind, and find emotional balance with simple practices from Tibetan Yantra Yoga.

Vibrance, good health, and longevity have one thing in common—they all begin with the breath. Modern science and classic spiritual traditions agree: regulating the breath leads to radiance and wellness in the body, mind, and spirit.

The Tibetan Yoga of Breath pairs the teachings of Tibetan Yantra Yoga (breathing yoga) with select contemplative ideas and practices and examines how well they complement each other through the lens of Western medical science. The benefits of proper breathing are offered from the point of view of classical Indian/Tibetan practice, and contemporary medical research supports how breath cultivates physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Basic Yantra Yoga techniques—also called wind energy training—are the key practices for achieving this vitality, down to the cellular level.

Genres: Buddhism, Health, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Audiobook, Meditation, Self Help

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2013

About the author

Khenpo Anyen Tulku Rinpoche is a Tibetan master of Dzogchen meditation as well as a seasoned scholar of the Nyingma and Gelugpa schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He is one of five "heart sons" of his root lama, Khenchen Tsara Dharmakirti Rinpoche, from whom he received an uncommonly short and unbroken lineage of the Longchen Nyingthig cycle of Jigme Lingpa in the lineage of Patrul Rinpoche.

Anyen Rinpoche founded the Orgyen Khamdroling Dharma Center in Denver, Colorado, which remains his principle seat in the West, and the Phowa Foundation, intended to help Buddhist practitioners prepare for the moment of death.

Reviews

[Jenna Citrus]

As much as I enjoyed the deep delve into the human mind and thought patterns many westerners are stuck in I was left a little disappointed with the sparse instructions on the breath and breathing techniques. There seem to have only been two breathing instructions while focusing on the inner mind and thoughts were well explored I was left wanting a little more for breathing exercises.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, down to earth advice and breath meditation exercisees

[Ankur saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

a guide book for correcting how to breath and avoid disease. this tells how our thoughts are attached with breath. if we lead our thoughts to positivity then definitely we can control our breath and it's reverse will be true too.
.....................................:)

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a much more instructive, origin based breathing guide. Really good information that I will reflect on in the future.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Tibetan Toga of breath
The narration is good, clear and easy to follow. However this book very quickly starts talking about how one practitioner has used the art to reduce breathing to once or twice an hour. And how it can be used to beat cancer. This is extremely dangerous and boarders on the manipulative. It feels like they are exploiting extremely vulnerable people in order to make money by selling books etc. Also suggests medition cured chronic lung condition. Without mentioning other medications etc. While they do then go onto say they are are not doctors this simply isn't good enough. And again presents them in an extremely negative light. Do not read this book.

[กำพล สนธิเณร · Rating 3 out of 5]

หายใจจากท้อง(กระบังลม) จะดีต้องรางกายมากกว่าหายใจจากอก เนื่องจากจะหายใจได้ลึกกว่า เป็นผลให้ร่างกายนำออกซิเจนไปใช้ได้ดีกว่า หายใจ/นาที น้อยครั้งลง หัวใจเต้นช้าลง รู้สึกสงบมากขึ้น

เป็นหนังสือแนวทางปฏิบัติสมาธิ ครึ่งแรกกล่าวถึงผลดี และผลเสียของรูปแบบการหายใจ ครึ่งหลังเป็นวิธีและแนวทางปฏิบัติ

เน้นที่การเปลี่ยนแปลงพฤติกรรมเคยชินที่ไม่ดี

[Fluencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great practical guide to the Tibetan Yoga of Breath. The author links back to Western studies when there is evidence. There is also a good overview of Buddhism and Buddhist psychology, so this book is accessible to all readers. I have started some of these practices and I see an immediate improvement in my mood and energy. I will continue revisiting this book as I practice.

[Liene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, short and concise introduction into Yantra Yoga. I found it very useful also for my own practice and I was glad to read about the scientific basis of breath-body connection. I recommend it for everyone who wants to 'meditate' but find the distracting thoughts too pervasive. There are multiple ways to work with the mind!

[Boon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book mainly talks about practicing Tibetan Buddhism, with only a few chapters about breathing and yoga. But the Buddhism teachings in this book can help make everyone's life better.

The book is like a guide that teaches us about Buddhism and how to use it to improve our lives. It shows us how to connect with our inner selves and become more compassionate and aware.

[Polina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book indeed, especially (and unexpectedly) the introduction part

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.1 stars rounded up. For anyone new to this, it would probably be a solid introduction.

[Brian J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good information, but more of a book on Buddhism than the art of breathing.

[Ala · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief and concise guide to the importance of breath work and includes several exercises that makes it easy to start your wind energy journey.

[Santiago Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise introduction to Tibetan breathing techniques and basic Buddhist principles. A good read!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good basic introduction to breathing as a form of yoga, meditation, and regulation of the self.

[Sarah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was honored to assist with the medical research in this book.

Anyen Rinpoche and Allison Zangmo describe the relationship between our breathing patterns and our mental and physical state from the viewpoints of both Tibetan and Western Medicine. Straightforward instruction is given for working with this powerful but often taken for granted means of healing.

In examining these two points of view, you will have a more complete understanding of the importance and the process of breathing. You will examine your own patterns of thought and behavior. You will be given contemplative and physical exercises to develop your experience and understanding. You will learn the basics of wind energy training - simple but potent techniques benefiting your health in the moment and over time.

I have found these techniques to be very helpful in my own life, and have benefited greatly from the ability to calm my mind in the moment. Working with becoming aware of my breathing patterns and reactions has given me a better handle on my emotions and interactions with others in my daily life. In difficult situations, there is now a sense of pause and choice, rather than reaction and being carried long, and looking back later. I continue to work at these contemplations and exercises on a daily basis, and know that more benefit is yet to come.

This book is written in an easy to relate to manner, and can benefit all who read it. You don't need previous experience, we're all breathing! Highly recommended.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very basic book on breathing. In fact... it's more a book of guided meditations in the Buddhist tradition. I have read B.K.S. Iyrngar's book Light on Pranayama Light on Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing and came to this book hoping for a more accessible book on the mechanics of breathing. In that way, this book was not at all what I needed. It contains only the most basic of information breath and pranayama, instead containing breathing (wind-training) meditations on topics such as Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Suffering. It was easy to read, and I would recommend it to anyone very new to the entire concept of breath work, but it is was not what I was looking for personally.

[Serena Solange · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tibetan yoga breathing

I came across this book while looking for something else. I would not say this book changed my life but I would recommend reading it even just for the instruction on proper breathing alone. There is some truth behind the statement that many of us do not breath properly. There is some scientific evidence to back up the claim that proper breathing is a benefit to our health. Now saying that it will cure you cancer or heal your diseased organs is in my mind a stretch but really, what do you have to loose.

On top of learning how to breath properly there are some great techniques on using breath to quiet the minds emotional responses such as anietiy, depression and stress. Personally I think the world would be a better place if everyone took a few minutes a day to meditate on their lives and the world around them. Breathing is an important part of meditation.

[M]

Just didn't speak to me the way I thought it would.