The New Science
of Controlled
Breathing
The Secret of Strength,
Energy and Beauty—Through
Breath Control
By EDWARD LANKOW
Leading basso with the Boston, Metropolitan and
Chicago Opera Companies. World-renowned
singer and teacher of the new science
of controlled breathing
LESSON I
Importance of Consciously Controlled
Breathing
CORRECTIVE EATING SOCIETY, Inc.
47 West Sixteenth Street
NEW YORK CITY
“And the Lord God ... breathed intohis nostrils the breath of life, and manbecame a living soul.”
Copyright, 1922, Corrective Eating Society, Inc.
FOREWORD
The staff of life is not bread—it isbreath. For you can live days withoutdrink, and weeks without food. But youcan only live a few minutes without air.
You would think, inasmuch as thehuman race has been breathing for atleast five hundred thousand years, thatmen and women today would know howto breathe.
As a matter of fact, however, consciouslycontrolled breathing is knownto but very few people. These few fortunateindividuals have been rewardedby Nature in the way Nature always rewardsthose who follow her laws.
She blesses them with magnificentconstitutions, tireless energy and thestrength and beauty that comes fromradiant health; skin that shows the richblood flowing under its clear surfaces,sparkling eyes, and the vivacious mannerthat attracts and holds the attentionof men and women alike.
[4]This, Nature does for those who userightly her great gift.
Of the few in all the world who knowthe inmost secrets of the art of breathing,Edward Lankow, the talented authorof this course, is perhaps the greatest.
The Editor of Physical Culture Magazinesays of him:
“Mr. Edward Lankow is rated bymany critics as the greatest basso inAmerica. The richness, resonance, depth,power, flexibility and cello-like beautyof his voice has not been duplicated inAmerica for years. Mr. Lankow is thirty-fiveyears old; weight, 205 poundsstripped; height 6 feet, 1-1/2 inches; chest44-1/2 inches; waist, 38 inches. He is Russian-American,born in Tarrytown, N. Y.”
In 1902, at the age of nineteen, Lankowwas offered the principle Bass engagementwith the “Bostonians” byBarnabee and MacDonald, which he declinedon account of a desire for furtherstudy. The same year he was offered aTour with Adelina Patti, which he declinedfor the same reason. In 1906 hestarted his career in Europe, where he[5]sang at all the principle opera houses,and in concerts. In 1911 he returned toAmerica and made his debut on theopening evening of the season with theBoston Opera Company. Before goingto Boston, he studied Pelleas et Mellisandein Paris, at the first rehearsal atwhich the famous composer Debussywas present, he received the superlativecompliment from the composer, whosaid to him “In your voice, I hear for thefirst the mystic timbre of voice Ithought of when I composed the partfifteen years ago.” Mr. Lankow