Hi friend,
My wish is that you are surrounded by loved ones, regardless of the circumstances.
I was introduced to Viktoras Kulvinskas and his book “Survival into the 21st Century: Planetary Healers Manual” in 1975 by my father. The book had just come out and we were ecstatic.
Flashback: Fasting, organic health food, NATURE, Tai Chi, Martial Arts, Eastern philosophy, Camping in Death Valley, Potlucks, Arnold Ehret, Paul Bragg, People’s Food in Solana Beach then in Encinitas, now in O.B (Ocean Beach), long blonde hair, deep tan, very rarely wore shoes or pants for that matter. You get the idea…
Viktoras Kulvinskas’s manual started to pull everything together for me. The chapter I found most interesting is the chapter on: Breatharianism, Sunshine for Lunch (pg.116).
No doubt this is where I started really thinking about why I’ve been obsessed with breath since youth, in all it’s denominations i.e. holding my breath, listening to it, watching it with my mind, learning its language-my relationship to it, which brought me into, Shotokan Karate, Tai Chi, surfing, nature, travel+.
And the grand finale was Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, which primarily utilizes the Ujjayi breathing technique. This technique requires a great deal of skill in manipulating the breath throughout the entire practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, which demand great focus in being relaxed while moving in and out of very restrictive empirical environments.
“Learning how to focus at any given moment has been one of the key practices I attribute to my continued success”.
Restriction often triggers panic—the urge to escape, to breathe, to expand. Travel capsule hotels, with their compact spaces, can feel claustrophobic, much like the sensation of a Kumbhaka (wikipedia), the yogic practice of breath retention.
As CO₂ builds in the body, the brain signals an urgent need to inhale, creating stress. But learning to sit with that discomfort rewires the nervous system, strengthening resilience, focus, and calm under pressure.
Viktoras Kulvinskas ( his website) faced a similar constraint—not with breath, but with the rigid health paradigms of his time. Instead of yielding, he held steady, absorbing the pressure until his exhale came in the form of Survival into the 21st Century (Amazon), a book that reshaped modern wellness. The book review is below. ⤵️
Whether in a tiny sleeping pod, a held breath, or the weight of societal limits, restriction forces clarity for me.
Those who stay with it long enough don’t just survive—they adapt, transform, and break through, at least, that’s my story. You?
Quotes I’m Pondering
“Your ability to trust when you can’t see the outcome is what makes you unstoppable”.
-unknown
Things I’ve Learned
In reference to the quote above: To really look deeply into a quick, generalized quote like the one above is important to me.
I’ve found that trust is something that’s always growing within me. Sometimes it’s strong and defined and sometimes it’s amorphous, changing.
And to trust something you can’t see makes you unstoppable?
Well that can be real denial…which can be good or bad.
I believe trust is dynamic and relies on understanding the intent of someone in the moment with whom you may or may not have a long relationship.
The same person I would trust to go to war with, may not be the same person I would trust with my family.
With all that above, being said, I truly do know myself enough to trust in something I cannot see, (or perhaps not know the outcome of) but to know ultimately, it is the right direction to move in and that I should never give up no matter what the circumstances present.
Always learning, growing and applying.
Podcast Episode I’m Revisting
For you music fans out there this video podcast is a must.
Rick Rubin and Ric Beato, both legends, really hit on some powerful, moving subjects.
I particularly like Mr. Beato’s insight into his sons ability to identify musical intonation. Prana baby, rock on..
Their podcast is Here
About (google search links):
Rick Rubin & Rick Beato
00:00 Introduction and Early Career
01:14 Discovering Dylan’s Perfect Pitch
04:04 The Science Behind Perfect Pitch
11:28 Teaching Jazz and Musical Journey
16:30 Starting a YouTube Channel
22:06 Impact of Streaming on Music
34:47 Personal Musical Memories
41:15 Optimal Video Length for Engagement
41:54 Early Content and Inspirations
44:29 The Birth of ‘What Makes This Song Great?’
44:41 Acquiring Multitracks and Experimentation
47:13 Viral Success and Storytelling
50:18 Music Listening Habits and Trends
01:13:32 The Role of AI in Music Production
01:19:12 Historical Context and Music
01:23:00 Intuition in Music Performance
Podcast episodes for “The Pranayama Podcast” are coming in at approximately one per month. My next podcast is with Alex Kuhtarev.
Mr. Kuhtarev is a former KGB agent for Russia.
He is now an Entrepreneur, Husband/Father, Human Experience Guide, Pantheist & Plant Medicine Integration Mentor.
Buckle up for this one friends…
View all past The Pranayama Podcasts on the website here. – Or on our YouTube Channel here.
This Week’s Read
As you may have guessed Viktoras Kulvinskas’s “Survival into the 21st Century: Planetary Healers Manual” is the book of the week.
This is the best, straight forward bio on Mr. Kulvinskas-
Truly amazing and all before the computer…
This manual is a groundbreaking work & is often hailed as a cornerstone of the holistic health movement. This is truly what most of what’s out there is built off of.
Though written nearly three decades ago, it was among the first books to integrate medical journal references into a holistic framework, earning it the reputation of a “New Age Bible” for those seeking alternative approaches to well-being.
Some of the key subjects are:
✅ Raw vs. Cooked Foods – A comparative analysis of different dietary approaches, including sproutarian, fruitarian, vegetarian, and macrobiotic lifestyles.
✅ Fasting & Detoxification – Various fasting techniques to cleanse and revitalize the body.
✅ Food as Medicine – A simple yet profound breakdown of enzymes, vitamins, minerals, superfoods, and water quality.
✅ Yoga & Meditation – Techniques for cultivating physical vitality and deepening spiritual awareness.
*> The book I would like to suggest you get that pairs quite nicely with Mr. Kulvinskas’s is Dr. Joe Dispenza’s book “Becoming Supernatural”.
Both books have a deep “soul” feel to them and in their own individual way touch upon the metaphysical, Beings of Light, aspect of our human experience.
Dr. Dispenza’s is obviously, scientifically more advanced. With almost 6 decades of deep data research behind him.
Great book(s) to have around my friends. ox -D
Music Insight
Song I’m listening to for winding down:
“Loumo” by Ba Cissoko ( Apple Music, Spotify).
The love of this piece comes from my early acquaintance with Soweto music from Africa before it became rap/pop/bling-bling thing.
The couple I’m listening to for a reflective smile:
@themolotovslondon “The Molotovs”
These guys really check a lot of the boxes when it comes to the UK’s contribution to music+ it’s happening right now.
Keep an eye on these guys.
p.s.-Click their handle in the bottom left-hand corner
when you get there.
The singer, musician, poet, I wish I was:
Alessandra Ferri & …
This will take some patience to view…
The musical performance doesn’t start until the 2:36 timestamp but the buildup I feel, is poetically powerful & well worth it.
Please take the time to enjoy this. You deserve it.
Stay in the light of love my friends. It’s always worth it. Dennis
