Pranayama
– A Science of Breathing - 1
Breath
and Prana
Breathing is a vital process which starts at the time of birth
and stops at the death. The important Oxygen is provided to
all the parts, organs and cells of the body. The maximum time
a person can survive without oxygen is about 4 minutes. All
the metabolic processes require oxygen. Oxygen is life, a vital
force. This vital energy is called Prana.
What
is Pranayama?
The process of controlling the Prana is called Pranayama. So
pranayama is the science related to vital force supplying energy
and controlling the body mind complex.
Breathing
is the process of taking in this vital energy and removing the
waste products out of our body and mind. Generally breathing
includes inhalation and exhalation but pranayama includes retention
of breath (known as “Kumbhaka” in Sanskrit) as well.
This is a very important process. The air can be retained in
the lungs or out of the lungs. The ancient texts say that retention
of air, increases the level of prana (energy) in the body, also
it regulates the flow of pranic energy through out the body.
So pranayama helps remove all the ailments and also can stop
the aging process of the body.
Mind
and breath
The mind, consisting of thoughts and emotions is closely related
to the breath. When the mind is calm and relaxed, the breathing
is smooth and slow. If you are stressed breathing is fast &
shallow but mostly through chest. When one gets angry, the breathing
becomes fast and forceful, in depressed states sighing, when
in pain gasping, in anxiety shallow and rapid. In this way,
the mental and emotional states affect breathing.
Rhythmic
Breathing is Pranayama –
All the processes and organs like heart, brain, digestive organs,
endocrine glands in the body have rhythms. Also the breathing
has specific rhythms. Pranayama is Rhythmic breathing, bringing
the breath in natural rhythm by controlling the process of inhalation,
exhalation and retention.
Physiology
of Yogic breathing –
In process of breathing, one uses diaphragm, intercostals muscles
in the chest. The diaphragmatic breathing is called vertical
breathing and is considered a more efficient way to inhale air
than inhaling while expanding the chest which is called horizontal
breathing. .
In pranayama, one should utilize the diaphragm efficiently to
get more oxygen without making more efforts. The diaphragm is
attached to the organs like heart and lings, also the liver,
spleen, pancreas and stomach from the bottom side. Efficient
movement of the diaphragm makes the functioning of these organs
more efficient.
We
will see Deep breathing & Fast breathing from Pranayama
Perspective in next article.
--Mr. Gandhar
Mandlik (Rishi Dharmachandra)
References
-
1.
Prana Pranayama Prana Vidya - Swami Niranjananda Saraswati (Bihar
School of Yoga, Munger)
2.
Pranayama - Yogacharya Vishwas Mandlik (Rishi Dharmajyoti),
Yoga Vidya Gurukul, Nasik.
3.
Pranayama - Swami Kuvalayananda (Kaivalyadham, Mumbai)
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