Benefits of pranayama

Benefits of pranayama

Yoga originated in India thousands of years ago. Yoga helps to build strength, awareness and harmony both in the mind and the body. The way we move, think, act and most importantly breathe contributes to the flow and strength of prana. Breathing is first and the last thing we do in our lives. This is one constant thing that we all have and without it there is no life. Breathing is the universal energy that runs through us and everything around us.

Pranayama refers to breathing yoga and is derived from Sanskrit where “prana” means life force and “yama” means control. It is founded on the beliefs of controlling ones’ breath and is almost always a part of yoga. Pranayama plays an important role along with asanas/postures in yoga. In Patanjali’s “Ashtanga yoga”, pranayama appears at the fourth stage. Before examining the breathing exercises, it is necessary to understand the process of breathing.

How does Pranayama yoga exercise benefit us?

1. It improves autonomic functions

2. It reduces oxidative stress symptoms

3. It also increases mental strength

4. Pranayama helps increase your capacity of having a sound judgment

5. Pranayama helps in living a long and healthy life

A regular practice of pranayama can help stimulate the parasympathetic system, countering the overstimulation our bodies go through during the fight-or-flight response. Our breathing patterns are also very closely associated with our emotions. We breathe different when we are angry, nervous, excited or tired. However, there is a way to change and energize our breathing patterns. In yoga, the objective of pranayama is to teach how to properly inhale, exhale or retain your breathing.

Pranayama helps the body rid itself of impurities and lower your pulse by eliminating them through exhalation process. When these impurities are cleared, there is more room for the prana to enter freely inside the body. Even just taking out time consciously to breathe in and breathe out can help us alter our emotional states. Pranayama techniques have different effects, much like different asanas do. Most kinds of pranayama are practiced sitting down with an upright spine as in Hero’s pose, Lotus pose or cross-legged pose. The main idea here is to breathe smoothly and not strain your body. It is best to practice pranayama in the morning on an empty stomach and in room with fresh air. Pranayama needs to be carefully executed if you have your period, are pregnant or have digestive problems because they involve abdominal contractions with an upward motion. Before practicing pranayama, consultation and recommendation is needed from the doctor.

Deep breathing or meditative breathing is one of the most primitive and common technique practiced by people around the world. This simple breathing technique is the 4-7-8 breathing. It can give your organs and tissues a much-needed oxygen boost. In this technique inhale for 4 seconds through nose, hold for 7 seconds and exhale for 8 seconds through nose. This type of breathing exercise can help increase mental stability and reduce stress. It also helps to improve concentration level and calms the mind. Do not do more than four breaths of this exercise at a time for the first month of practice. While learning this exercise it’s recommended to sit with your back straight and make sure that you practice Meditative breathing 4-5 hours after having food.

Practicing pranayama can help you to relieve tension instantly as well as anger and anxiety. It is also quite beneficial for people suffering from Alzheimer and can also provide respite to a person in case he is feeling hot or have a mild headache. A regular daily practice of deep breathing is one of the best tools for improving your health and well-being. Learning to breathe consciously and with awareness is a valuable tool in helping to restore balance in the mind and body.