Benefits of Yoga Pranayam for Healthy Life

Benefits of Yoga Pranayam for Healthy Life


By: Dr Charles Buchar











Pranayama is derived from 2 Sanskrit words – Prana (life force) and Ayama (control). Therefore, in its broadest description, Prananyama would mean the control of the flow of life force. To most, control of breath is Pranayama. However, this is a result of wrong interpretation.



Read more on Benefits of Pranayama and Pranayama Breathing and Pranayama Yoga



For a rightful interpretation, it must be understood that 'prana' is an energy or life force that is universal in nature - it is omnipresent. A portion of that prana is also present in the human body. It flows at a superficial level to maintain the body and its organs.



The goal of Pranayama is to increase the quantum of this life force (Prana) so that it can reach out to 'hidden' recesses of the brain. This helps in expanding the human faculties and retarding degeneration.



Sukha Pranayama



Sit comfortably in any meditative posture. Sit erect. Keep the palms on the knees and observe your natural breathing. Feel the breath flowing and out of the lungs. Let the breathing be natural. Feel the abdominal movement while breathing. While inhaling , let the abdominal wall move out and while exhaling let it move in. Keep your mind clear, only "observing" your breathing. While inhaling, feel the power and energy flow and while exhaling imagine throwing out tension, stress and disease.



Benefits



1. Provides deep relaxation to the body and mind.



2. Strengthens the nervous system and respiratory system.



3. Improves concentration.



4. Relieves stress , depression and hypertension.



Bhastrika



Sit comfortably in any meditative posture. Sit erect. Keep the left hand on the left knee in Gyan Mudra . Fold the index and the middle fingers of the right hand to touch the palm. Close the right nostril with the right thumb. Exhale through the left nostril and immediately inhale forcefully. Quickly open the right nostril by closing the left nostril and repeat the procedure. Keep repeating this pattern quickly gradually increasing the speed of inhalation and exhalation. Simultaneously contract and expand the abdominal muscles and slowly return to the initial speed .



Benefits



1. Very good for the respiratory system including the diaphragm and the bronchial tubes.



2. Improves function of digestive organs.



3. Helps reducing excess fat in the abdominal region.



Kapalbhati



Sit comfortably in any meditative posture. Sit erect. Exhale through both nostrils, contracting the middle and lower abdomen portions. Release the contractions quickly and immediately follow with another forceful exhalation . Inhale passively and effortlessly. Gradually increase the frequency to about 100 strokes/minute. After the round take a deep breath and gradually exhale.



Benefits



1. Cleans capillaries of the remotest part of the body.



2. Purifies the frontal portion of the brain.



3. Aid in combating asthma, diabetes, and chronic bronchitis besides other nervous disorders.



4. Cleans the nasal passages .



Bhramari



Sit comfortably in any meditative posture. Sit erect. Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose. Let the inhalation caress the throat area. Then gently plug the ears with the respective index fingers and closed eyes. Exhale slowly producing a long and continuous humming sound. Enjoy the sound and vibrations produced during these breathing techniques.



Benefits



1. Promotes a clear voice and is recommended for singers.



2. Beneficial for pregnant women and in labor preparation.



3. Makes an impact on the mind, producing peace and joy.



BENEFITS OF PRANAYAMA



He who practices Pranayama will have good appetite, cheerfulness, handsome figure, good strength, courage, and enthusiasm, a high standard of health, vigor and vitality and good concentration of mind. Pranayama is quite suitable for the Westerners also. A Yogi measures the span of his life not by the number of years but by the number of his breaths. You can take in a certain amount of energy or Prana from the atmospheric air along with each breath. Vital capacity is the capacity shown by the largest quantity of air a man can inhale after the deepest possible exhalation. A man takes fifteen breaths in a minute. The total number of breaths comes to 21,600 times per day.



Other benefits are as follows:-



1. It makes the life meaningful and social.



2. It keeps the man balanced in all the conditions and situations.



3. It helps in understanding the real nature of man and its relationships with the community.



4. It manages psycho physical diseases.



5. It put chain on the senses.



6. It makes the body healthy.



7. It helps in controlling the modalities of mind.



8. It gives opportunities to soul to flourish.



9. Intellectual development is accelerated.



10. Will power becomes strong through its practice.



11. It develops feelings of national and international well-being