“Breathing Exercises and Auto-Suggestion” by Herbert A. Parkyn in Suggestion, May 1904

Document Description

In the spring of 1904, Herbert A. Parkyn’s Suggestion magazine highlighted breathwork as a way to promote the release of “The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath” by Yogi Ramacharaka. The magazine published two main articles about the science and practice of breathing, as well as a full-page ad for the book. These articles explained the physical benefits of deep breathing and showed how breathing could help strengthen the mind. This combined promotional campaign made it clear that Parkyn was a central figure behind the Yogi Publication Society.

Summary

In “Breathing Exercises and Auto-Suggestion,” Dr. Parkyn says that modern life has led people to lose the natural breathing habits seen in animals. He blames much of society’s declining health on spending too much time indoors, poor air quality, lack of exercise, and shallow breathing. Instead of advising readers to look for the “perfect” breathing method, Parkyn stresses that the most important thing is to start breathing deeply and regularly. He believes that practicing consistently matters more than following any specific technique.

Parkyn explains that all recognized breathing systems are valuable because they do two things at once. First, they help bring more fresh air into the lungs. Second, they support the mental focus behind the exercise. Each conscious breath acts as a form of auto-suggestion, building the belief in better health because, as Parkyn often said, “thought takes form in action.” He believes that many impressive results from special breathing methods come not just from the breathing itself, but from the mental suggestions that go along with the exercises.

The article recommends abdominal breathing as the best method. Parkyn says that letting the diaphragm and abdomen expand fully helps the lungs take in more air and also gently massages the stomach and intestines. He notes that abdominal breathing not only boosts oxygen intake but also supports digestion, improves circulation, and can ease chronic constipation. Patients are told to practice this type of breathing several times a day until it becomes a habit. The article also suggests walking exercises that match breathing with steps as a practical way to build good breathing habits.

The article ends by explaining how breathing exercises can also train the mind. Parkyn urges readers to repeat positive affirmations while practicing deep breathing, such as statements about better health, stronger digestion, clearer thinking, improved circulation, restful sleep, and more energy. By combining focused breathing with positive thoughts, he believed people could improve both their physical health and mental well-being. Each breathing session could be both a physical exercise and a way to support mental healing.

This article is important because it shows that many ideas later found in The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath were already part of Dr. Parkyn’s teachings at the Chicago School of Psychology. Parkyn had long seen air as one of his main “Life Essentials,” along with good food and water, and he included breathing exercises, auto-suggestion, and mind-body training in his courses years before Ramacharaka’s book was published. By featuring both a full-page ad for The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath and several articles on breathing in the same issue of Suggestion, Parkyn introduced readers to the scientific and therapeutic ideas that the Yogi book would build on. This illustrates the close connection between his system of Suggestive Therapeutics and the breathing philosophy later linked to Yogi Ramacharaka.