You have a point but don't throw the "baby out with the bathwater". The problem is that much of the ancient Yogic Pranayama techniques were discovered empirically but its explanation models do not quite match with our current Scientific Models (which is of course vastly more detailed and Complex). We do have the broad ideas covered and a lot of micro-details worked out but no one has as yet put everything together and explained it end-to-end using Modern Science. Hence all the charlatans/woo-woo peddlers having a field day with the gullible public. So it behooves us to study a little bit by ourselves to get at the facts/truth. With that in mind you might find the following useful;
- A Physiological Handbook for Teachers of Yogasana by Mel Robin (the 2nd edition is called A Handbook for Yogasana Teachers, The Incorporation of Neuroscience, Physiology and Anatomy into the Practice): This is a huge book where the author (himself a researcher) has tried to explain the ancient practice in terms of Modern Science. The bibliography is quite large and lists a lot of Studies/Papers on the subject.
So my suggestion is not to dismiss wholesale "Sciences" which were discovered empirically and practiced over generations but try to practice it and explain it using Modern Science as much as possible. That is how "Real Science" advances.
Comments
You have a point but don't throw the "baby out with the bathwater". The problem is that much of the ancient Yogic Pranayama techniques were discovered empirically but its explanation models do not quite match with our current Scientific Models (which is of course vastly more detailed and Complex). We do have the broad ideas covered and a lot of micro-details worked out but no one has as yet put everything together and explained it end-to-end using Modern Science. Hence all the charlatans/woo-woo peddlers having a field day with the gullible public. So it behooves us to study a little bit by ourselves to get at the facts/truth. With that in mind you might find the following useful;
- Movement of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in the Body: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMeG75wqsRc
- Blood Gases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KudrLakBgeU
- Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6189422/
- Benefits from one session of deep and slow breathing on Vagal tone and anxiety in young and older adults : https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98736-9
- A Physiological Handbook for Teachers of Yogasana by Mel Robin (the 2nd edition is called A Handbook for Yogasana Teachers, The Incorporation of Neuroscience, Physiology and Anatomy into the Practice): This is a huge book where the author (himself a researcher) has tried to explain the ancient practice in terms of Modern Science. The bibliography is quite large and lists a lot of Studies/Papers on the subject.
So my suggestion is not to dismiss wholesale "Sciences" which were discovered empirically and practiced over generations but try to practice it and explain it using Modern Science as much as possible. That is how "Real Science" advances.