THE SPIRITUAL BRIEF 

All You Wanted to Know About Pranayama

By Col. C.K Seshadri

* What we breathe is air from the nature as we know. But in Yoga we call it as PRANA without which life is impossible. It is the Vital Force which pulsates with regular frequency and rhythm in all living beings. Prana is the basic life principle which acts as a bridge between mind and matter. It can therefore be defined as the basic entity from which the whole universe is made. CHITTA or MIND is the subtle manifestation of Prana.

* Prana provides us immunity from various kinds of diseases. All the limbs, organs and important glands of the body, such as heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord are provided with life energy by Prana. It is this Pranic Energy that makes our eyes to see, ears to hear, nose to smell and tongue to speak. Also it is the Pranic Energy which lends lustre to our faces, makes our minds think and enables our alimentary system to digest and assimilate the food we take. Prana protects us and we derive everything needed for our comfort from it.

* It is therefore very important and essential to regulate and control this vital element Prana. This is achieved by Pranayama. Pranayama is the fourth limb of Patanjali’s eight limbed “Ashtanga Yoga”. Patanjali Muni is the father of Yoga and it is he who gave us the science of yoga through his Yoga Sutras about 2500 years ago. He defines Pranayama as the science of cleansing, balancing and gaining control over the Prana in the human system.

Pranayama is the science of harnessing the breath for gaining control over Prana and thereby on the Mind. Pranayama, the art and science, is an essential part of Yoga practice. It is rightly claimed and experienced by Yoga Practitioners that Pranayama provides immunity from incurable diseases and provides peace of mind.

* Our body has billions of cells. Each individual cell is an independent body and has life. It needs oxygen for its survival which is provided by the air we breathe. We are fortunate that God Almighty has given us the capacity to breathe without any effort from our side. This is normal breathing. But it meets only 20-25 % of the body requirement keeping 75-80 % of the lungs idle. So of the 73 million cells in the lungs, only about 20 million cells get the required oxygen and survive. The remaining 53 million cells die and get contaminated by several diseases like tuberculosis, asthma, bronchitis, cough etc. Also the lungs function inefficiently affecting the process of blood purification. Similarly the cells in other parts of the body are deprived of the necessary oxygen resulting in many other diseases.

Pranayama is a systematic exercise of respiration, which makes the lungs stronger, improves blood circulation, makes the man healthier and bestows upon him the boon of long life.

The Science of Yoga is based on three major principles, viz.

These principles are put to effective use by Pranayama. Deep breathing is part of Pranayama and it provides 80-100 % of the oxygen required for the cells. Almost all the cells therefore get rejuvenated and as a result the diseases either do not occur or get cured.

The air we breathe in contains oxygen and it is absorbed by the Red Blood Corpuscles. The oxygenated blood gets circulated to all parts of the body. This is ensured by Bhastrika and Anulom–Vilom Pranayamas.

No exercise can provide internal exercise required for a healthy body. But Kapalbhati Pranayama provides the internal exercise wherein the stomach and its components liver, kidney, pancreas, intestines and spleen are rigorously exercised. This will ensure proper, smooth and efficient functioning of these components resulting in good health.

Also the seven Pranayamas advocated by Swami Ramdevji will ensure increased secretion of good hormones. This will enable hormonal balance within the body which is very essential for perfect positive health.

* Swami Ramdev has evolved seven methods of Pranayama incorporating almost all the peculiarities of Patanjali’s Pranayama rendering them scientific and useful from a spiritual point of view. This package of seven Pranayamas is a holistic treatment curing almost all the diseases like cancer of any type, viz. diabetes, asthma, thyroid, hypertension, heart problems, migraine, eye & ear problems, psoriasis, skin problems, obesity, genetic diseases etc.

Diseases get cured because the Pranayamas work on the individual systems within the body, like kidney, liver, nervous, heart etc., and rectify them and make them function properly and efficiently. As a result the human body system comprising of the above sub-systems start functioning properly and efficiently.

Once the human system is perfect then no diseases can occur or the diseases in the body get cured automatically. Thus an individual practising Pranayamas regualarly will not get any disease or if he has it will get cured. It also transforms a person to positive and constructive thinking.

Regular practice of Pranayama will develop the habit of deep breathing which results in several health benefits including increased life span. Individuals from 3 to 100 years of age can practise the Pranayama.

* Mental disturbances like excitement, anxiety, fear, anger, disappointment, lust for sex and other mental aberrations can be calmed down by regular practice of Pranayama. Also it improves the functions of the brain cells resulting in better memory, good power of concentration and improvement in faculty of discrimination and observation.