Pranayama - Centuries Old Remedy

Have you ever noticed when we are angry, our breath quickens, and when we take deep breaths, the anger fades away? When we are sleeping our breath slows down. Yoga teachings state that if the mind is moving so are the heart and respiration. By consciously slowing down the breath and making it flow like a set of rhythmic patterns, we can achieve a corresponding composure and not disturb the consciousness. A layman often equates the practice of yoga with yoga poses performed on a mat, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot more underneath it. A big part of this yogic path involves pranayama practice.

The practice of regulating your breath is known as Pranayama. In Sanskrit, “prana” means life energy and “yama” means control. It is a main component of yoga, an exercise for physical and mental wellness which involves the practice of breathing exercises and patterns. The practice of pranayama dates back to ancient India and the origins of yoga is said to be around 5^th and 6^th century B.C. It is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita. The early yoga of the Vedas was much different than what we practice today. While nobody knows exactly how old the practice is, some scholars believe that pre-Vedic societies practiced yoga even before that.

During the practice of pranayama you purposely inhale, exhale and hold your breath in a specific pattern. It is an ancient breathing technique that originated from yogic practices in India. Nowadays it has more popularity in the western world because of the many health benefits that come from a pranayama practice. Pranayama is known as the fourth anga, or limb of yoga which is practiced alongside yoga. There are eight limbs in Ashtanga Yoga and many yoga gurus recommend including pranayama with yoga practices. It is regarded as a science which believes that you can control the power of your mind through regulating your breath. It is believed in the yogic practices that you can control your inner force, also known as prana, through pranayama practice. A strong pranayama breath is also believed to detoxify your body and it centres on the ability to control breath and improve mental well-being. 

In yoga pranayama is used with other physical postures (asanas) practice and meditation (dhyana). Together, these practices are responsible for giving several benefits to the body and mind. But individually pranayama has benefits of its own. These advantages are due to the therapeutic effects of breathing exercises and mindfulness. Breathing is a part of life and is one of the most important functions of the body. When we breathe properly in a correct manner, the oxygen supply to the blood and brain is increased and it helps in controlling the “Prana” or vital life. The benefits of pranayama have been extensively researched and according to scientific studies, pranayama may benefit your body in many ways. There are different types of pranayama exercises and some are meant to calm the nervous system down while some are meant to energize it. The regular practice of pranayama offers a multitude of physical, emotional and mental health benefits. 

Pranayama can improve lung health and its capacity as you are using more of your lungs. It has also shown to have beneficial effects on asthma patients. It can also aid with healthy eating habits and promote weight loss provided it is done correctly. The goal of pranayama is to connect your body and mind. It also supplies your body with oxygen while removing toxins which provides healing physiological benefits. The benefits of pranayama have been extensively researched. According to scientific studies, doing pranayama regularly can reduce stress levels. The stress-relieving effects of pranayama can also help you sleep better. Breathing is automatic for most of us but when you become aware of your breathing and how it feels, you start to focus on the present moment instead of the past or future. Hence it helps in increasing mindfulness. When you concentrate on your breathing it can help you calm your nervous system. 

If you haven’t practiced pranayama before, you may want to join a yoga class or find a professional teacher who can teach and assist you in practicing breathing techniques.