Pranayama Yoga ( Breathing ) | Yoga for Pranayama | Yoga Pranayama

What is yoga pranayama?

The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prana, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and ayama, to suspend or restrain. It is often translated as control of the life force.When used as a technical term in yoga, it is often translated more specifically as breath control.It consists of series of exercises especially intended to meet the body’s needs and keep it in vibrant health.According to yoga philosophy, the postures are merely preludes to deeper states of meditation that lead us toward enlightenment, where our minds grow perfectly still and our lives grow infinitely big.

Ideally, this practice of opening up the inner life force is not merely to take healthy deep breaths.It is intended for yoga practitioners to help and prepare them in their Meditation process.It has a mysterious power to soothe and revitalize a tired body, a flagging spirit, or a wild mind. The ancient sages taught that prana, the vital force circulating through us, can be cultivated and channeled through a panoply of breathing exercises.The Forefathers of Yoga developed a special system Pranayama to increase, develop and control this life force.

Four Stages of Pranayama:

1.Nispatti:The stage where the yogi goes beyond his physical body, and unites with the supreme.

2.Parichay:The stage where the yogi experiences the knowledge of Pranayama.

3.Ghata:The stage where the three sariras merge to envelope the soul. The three sariras are gross, subtle, and causal.

4.Arambha:The commencement stage wherein the person’s interest in Pranayama is awakened.

Normal breathing use only a fraction of our potential respiratory capacity.Then we exhale carbon dioxide and take away all toxic wastes from our body. Through the practice of Pranayama, the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide is attained. Absorbing prana through breath control links our body, mind, and spirit. Although we cannot control whether or not we breathe, we can control the way that we breathe.

Some of the popular forms are Ujjayee, Shitali, Viloma, Kapalabhati, Anuloma, Suryabhedana, Bhastrika etc. There are variations in performing different Pranayamas. Some of them can be done in a sitting position while others in a standing line or sitting position.Heart diseases, sleep disorders, and fatigue are some of the effects of oxygen starvation. Therefore, the negative energy of being restless and troublesome leads to lesser prana inside the body. By practicing deep and systematic breathing through Pranayama, we reenergize our body.

Types of Pranayama Yoga:

1.Pranayama from Hatha Yoga (Surya Bhedan, Bhasrika, Ujjayi, Shitali, Sitkari, Bhramari, Murchha and Plavini Pranayama)

2.Bhramari Pranayama

3.Ujjayi Pranayama.

4.Suryan Bhedan Pranayama Right Nostril Breathing

5.Nadi Shuddhi Pranayama or Anuloma – Viloma or Alternate nostril breathing-1.

6.Anuloma – Viloma or Alternate Nostril Breathing-2.

7.Tribandha and Pranayama.

8.Quiet Breathing, Deep Breathing, Fast Breathing.

Benefits for Yoga Pranayama:

1.Pranayama leads to spiritual journey through a relaxed body and mind.

2.Pranayama develops our concentration and focus. It fights away stress and relaxes the body. Controlling one’s breathing also results to serenity and peace of mind.

3.Pranayama helps in one’s digestion. With the proper way of breathing, one’s metabolism and health condition
will start to improve.

4.Pranayama reduces the toxins and body wastes from within our body. It prevents one from acquiring diseases.

Proper practice of pranayama can control almost any disease but improper practice may give rise toall sorts of respiratory ailments. So one should take care to acquire control over his breath gradually.However, it is true that if one does Pranayama unscientifically, without proper guidance, one certainly suffers.

But it does not mean that it is such a difficult process, that it cannot be done by a common man. On the contrary, if it is learnt and practiced under an expert’s guidance, one learns soon and experiences the wonderful and even unimaginable benefits.

After certain easy exercises and after bathing one can try to practice meditation for 10 to 15 minutes focusing their concentration on one point or object .During such Meditation one can chant OM or any other blissful words such as OM SHANTI ETC.

Daily practice of such exercises and Meditation will help in maintaining your blood pressure and hypertension to normal level.

Yoga For Hypertension:

Double Leg Raises:A Double Leg Raise is same as Single Leg Raise at the same time we will raise both legs. When doing this Yoga Pose the full length of the back should rest on the floor. The necks and shoulders should be relaxed.

Shoulder Stretches:It relives tension and stress and in shoulders and upper back. If you are practicing it regularly then you will identify several changes in your body and mind.

Easy Pose (Sukhasana):This is one of the best Meditative Poses and is done after Corpse Pose. This helps in keeps the mind, slowing metabolism and straightening of spine.

Antara Kumbhaka requires the application of both Jalandhara and Mula Bandhas; in addition the rib case gently “hugs” the lungs.

Establish Sama Vritti Ujjayi (and for this example, the vritti count is 6 OMs). To begin, apply the two bandhas as you near the end of your inhale, and retain the breath for 2 OMs, no more. Gently squeeze the ribs against the expanded lungs. Then exhale, concurrently releasing Mula Bandha and, when finished, raise your head to neutral. DON’T perform Kumbhaka on successive breaths; take 2 to 3 Ujjayi breaths before the next retention.

In general your first Kumbhakas should be one-third to one-half the length of your Sama Vritti count. Practice at this level until you’re completely comfortable, which may take several weeks or longer.

Then gradually reduce the number of Ujjayis between Kumbhakas until you can comfortably retain your breath for 2 OMs on successive inhales for about 5 minutes. Next increase your Kumbhaka to 3 OMs, but again separate them by 2 to 3 Ujjayis. Again gradually reduce the Ujjayis until you can comfortably retain for 3 OMs on successive inhales for 5 minutes.

Proceed methodically until your Kumbhaka count matches your Sama Vritti count. Now STOP. Don’t go any further without direct guidance from an experienced teacher.

Stress causes blood platelets to stick together and coagulate the blood, which in turn increase blood pressure. Scientific studies have been done to show that yogic practices can thin the blood by reducing platelet accumulation. Vasopressin is a stress hormone secreted by the brain (specifically, the pituitary gland) and increases blood pressure due to vascular contraction. The secretion of this hormone can also be reduced by the practice of yoga, according to scientific studies.

Some Yogic practices that prove to be beneficial in controlling blood pressure are yoga nidra, pranayama, certain asana and shavasan. A quick shavasan everyday can impact the immune system positively and send messages of relaxation throughout the body. Pranayama helps by regulating the breath (and breathing patterns) so that stress-induced fast breathing can be reduced. Fast breathing related to stress sends signals of stress to the brain, thus creating a vicious cycle of hormonal secretions and spiked blood pressure. This cycle can be turned off, by simply teaching the body how to respond to stress and yogic techniques, if practiced diligently, can do just that.