Pranayama is one of the most renowned ancient and popular practices of yoga. Its practice has been mentioned in the Vedas and its existence dates back to Patanjali Yoga Sutra written in 200 B.C.
Preliminaries of Pranayama
Pranayama is both a traditional and a scientific technique that balances the mind, body, emotions, and ultimately the soul. Its therapeutic benefits have been gaining popularity all over the world, encouraging people from different walks of life to practice and master the art of Pranayama. Yoga is an art of establishing “harmony between individual existences with cosmic existence” and Pranayama is an application of this “art” through which one develops an awareness of one’s Prana (vital life force).
The soul of Pranayama lays in controlled inhalation, retention, and controlled exhalation of the breath. It not only extends and empowers the Prana, but it also revitalizes and soothes the vital energy so that the body can harness it.
Unleash the Power and Learn Pranayama
There is no doubt that by practicing pranayama one acquires complete control over one’s body. It cures the diseases of Vata (air), Pitta (bile), Kapha (cough) and enhances the gastric fire in one’s body. One who regularly practices Pranayama is able to develop a lustrous face, clarity of voice, brightness of eyes, slimness of the body, freedom from diseases like Asthma, Sinusitis, Hypertension, Ischemic Heart Diseases, Indigestion, and many more. It helps in the management of reproductive disorders, degenerative diseases like Fibromyalgia, reduces the metabolic strain on kidneys and most importantly increases the blood supply to the cortex in the Brain. It improves one’s mental health and cures many personality disorders. Pranayama has a tremendous power to revert back the aging process. It has an inherent power to boost the immune system. It increases one’s confidence and self-esteem and helps in channelizing positive energy.
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Mastery over the art of Pranayama helps in the purification of Nadis (channels through which Prana flows), and through determined practice, one may also awaken the Kundalini Shakti. The Prana tends to move along the principle Nadi-Sushumna; the individual starts experiencing higher levels of consciousness, ultimately culminating into a transcendental state.
Scientific Yoga Research also supports the many Benefits that Pranayama Offers. Here are few of them
- Pranayama enhances the blood circulation inside the chest and abdomen, which stimulates their function and excites the nerve endings. (Kuvalyananda,1930).
- The breathing process in Pranayama consumes less amount of Oxygen for itself. As a result, more oxygen is available for body functions. (Basu, 1924; Rao, 1968).
- Pranayama with Kumbhaka in the long term practice gives voluntary control over many visceral functions. Heart rate and metabolic processes slow down resulting in less consumption of energy by the body. (Byramjee,1975; Chinna, 1980; Karambelkar, 1968; Laubry et. al. 1936).
But ultimately, the soul of Pranayama lies in the simplicity of its art, being complex and powerful at the same time-rewarding the practitioner with enormous benefits, which is beyond any gift that humankind could ever get in this modern era. However, learning this healthful art from an authentic source is a must. Choose the best and the leading yoga institutes to start your journey towards healing with yoga.
“As long as Prana (vayu) is flowing in the body, life exists. Death ascends as soon as Prana (vayu) is drawn out from the body. Therefore Vayu should be regulated and Pranayama should be practiced”. (Sutra 3, Chapter 2, Hathapradipika)
Yogacharya Sandhya Dixit
Yogacharya Sandhya Dixit is one of the senior-most teacher in Kaivalyadhama, Lonavala. She has experience of 39 years in the field of yoga. She has actively conducted workshops and training camps at national and international levels. Her 10 days online workshops series in March 2020 ‘Yoga for senior citizens’ collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush was applauded and acknowledged by thousands of people. Her Pranayama online workshops have been successful since June 2020. Workshop participants love her style of teachings. She recently is awarded Swami Kuvalayananda Yoga Puraskar 2020 for her dedicated, committed and extraordinary work in the field of Yoga.