Yoga and Meditation » Pranayama

Pranayama - Peaceful Mind Body and Soul
Pranayama is the fourth anga or organ (branch) of ashtanga yoga as prescribed by Patanjali, the chief guru of Ayurveda. Astanga means eight organ-ed or eight branched). Pranayama is the technique of collecting and storing more prana (life) from the air (oxygen) we breathe, or in simple words pranayama control (ayama) of prana (life force).

Yama, Niyama and Asana are the first three angas (organs or branches).

There are many types of pranayama, eight of them are generally considered to be important. Learning of some of the pranayamas is strictly restricted to learning directly from a teacher (the same way you can’t take a postal course for swimming).

Mind and life is essential for the existence of man. If any one of the factors is lost, the person ceases to exist. Prana (life) enters our body while taking shape at womb and leaves us when we die. Prana is omnipresent. It is present in the air we breathe, water we drink and food we eat. You know, the most important of them is air; we can’t sustain our prana for even two minutes if we are devoid of all important air.

Several researches suggest the power of pranayama in treating stress related disorders, asthma, and oxidative stress. Yoga practitioners who practice pranayama experience strong and controlled mind.

Deep Breathing Pranayama-1

To take deep breathing, take any of the pose directed to prayer and meditation. Body is kept erect and without giving stress to any part of the body or without making any movements.

Your stomach is almost empty. Put your hands on knees.

Straighten up your head and close your eyes.

Take breath slowly through both the nostrils. Chest will push forward a little when the lungs are full.

Retain breath in the lungs for a little while. (In-breath)

Slowly exhale, slower than inhalation. Make sure no air is left in the lungs.

Don’t inhale for a few moments (Out-breath).

On the first day practice this cycle for five times a day and gradually increase it to ten times a session. It is practiced after savasana or corpse-pose.

Pranayama can be done sitting, standing or lying position.

Never allow to break the rhythm of breathing in or breathing out. Each action must be continuous till complete.

Anyone can practice pranayama any time and anywhere. Whenever you feel under pressure, take six to eight deep breaths and you will experience better control of mind.

Though it is not necessary to keep the eyes shut, don’t allow the sights to distract you.

Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama 2

Pranayama step 2 anuloma – viloma

It is also called nadisodhana pranayama or nervous cleansing pranayama.

Take a meditation or prayer pose.

Extend and keep your left hand palms down on right knee.

Raise right hand and put index and center finger between eyebrows. Keep thumb on right and ring finger on left of nose.

Close your eyes and calm your breathing (and mind) down. Relax all muscles.

Completely breathe out. Expel all the air.

Use your thumb to close right nostril. Fill your lungs by taking breath through your left nostril only.

After fully filling your lungs, close your left nostril with small and ring finger.

Open right nostril and fully expel the breath inside. Keep the breath out for two or three seconds.

Take breathe through your right nostril. Repeat the complete cycle three times as a beginning and increase it to up to ten cycles.

Don’t break the breathing in or breathing out process any time while practicing pranayama. Never keep your mouth opened. Mind is calm and listens to the movement of breathing only.

This pacifies mind. It balances prana of different nerves. Cleans brain cells and opens previously unopened alveoli of the lungs. Practice this for a few days before attempting pranayama 3.