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by bmj 2073 days ago
The article doesn't mention it, but there is a long tradition of hesychastic prayer[0] in Christianity, starting with the desert Fathers, and continuing in the practice of the Jesus Prayer. Some teachings about the Jesus Prayer which emphasize the importance of breath also include serious warnings about the possibility of bodily harm if the prayer is not done correctly. While early practitioners likely saw this as God's judgement on the unrighteous, current practitioners better understand the physiological effects of breath work, and the potential dangers if done incorrectly.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesychasm

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Prayer