Stig Avall Severinsen

This book is an in depth treatment of the breathing process and its control/training through relaxation/awareness techniques. It approaches the topic via a mixture of freediving, yoga (i.e. pranayama), and modern science.

Although it quotes a lot of scientific studies (unfortunately without reference and often not very precisely) it is at times on the border to the esoteric with sentences like "[...] the energy waves I send out into the world will reach out and do good [...](p. 40)". A clear line of thought is often missing.

Occasionally, I found the author a bit boastful. Also, virtually every picture contains the author in some striking pose and at times you get the impression that every disease can be cured via proper breathing.

However, if are willing to look beyond these shortcomings you find a bunch of interesting observations related to breathing. The book conveys a playful/experimenting attitude towards breathing, that I found very beneficial. Although some facts are just common sense, they are assembled in unique way. This gave me a whole new perspective that I consider invaluable. But time will show...… (meer)