Pranayama Yoga | Yogic Breathing
Pranayama is Yoga breathing and is the science of breath control. A set of exercises that focus on the breath work, Pranayama is necessary to keep the body healthy and fit. The word pranayama comes from Prana, which is life energy or life force, Yama, which is control or discipline, and Ayama comes from extension, non-restraint or expansion. Pranayama is for yoga practitioners and it helps them in the meditation process.
Respiration consists of inhaling or breathing in oxygen that nourishes the whole body and energizes every part of the body. Then we exhale or breathe out carbon dioxide that flushes out all the toxic matter from our body. Those who practice Pranayama or breath control can balance the flow of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Absorbing life energy through breath control can unite the mind, body and spirit.
However, in our daily life, which is crammed with work and stress, we do not breathe in the right manner. Our breath is shallow and quick, and so we use only a small part of our lungs. This means that we are able to breathe only a part of oxygen. Fatigue, sleep disorders and heart diseases are some of the problems that crop up because of inadequate breath work. And this leads to restless energy in the body, which depletes the reserve of prana within us. When one practices pranayama, he can reenergise the body by breathing in more oxygen.
Four stages of pranayama: Following are the four stages of pranayama –
Benefits of pranayama: It is important to work on yoga breathing to enhance the experience and rejuvenate and nourish the body by building the reserves of Prana. Here are the several benefits of practicing Pranayama:
Respiration consists of inhaling or breathing in oxygen that nourishes the whole body and energizes every part of the body. Then we exhale or breathe out carbon dioxide that flushes out all the toxic matter from our body. Those who practice Pranayama or breath control can balance the flow of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Absorbing life energy through breath control can unite the mind, body and spirit.
However, in our daily life, which is crammed with work and stress, we do not breathe in the right manner. Our breath is shallow and quick, and so we use only a small part of our lungs. This means that we are able to breathe only a part of oxygen. Fatigue, sleep disorders and heart diseases are some of the problems that crop up because of inadequate breath work. And this leads to restless energy in the body, which depletes the reserve of prana within us. When one practices pranayama, he can reenergise the body by breathing in more oxygen.
Four stages of pranayama: Following are the four stages of pranayama –
- Arambha: This is the first stage of pranayama, where a person becomes interested in Pranayama. This is also known as the commencement stage.
- Ghata: There are three ‘sarisas’, namely, gross, subtle and casual. When all three merge and surround the soul, the stage is known as Ghata.
- Parichay: This is the stage, where the yoga practitioner, experiences the essence of knowledge through the breath work of Pranayama.
- Nispatti: This is the stage where the yoga practitioner goes beyond his physical being and is believed to unite with the supreme powers.
Benefits of pranayama: It is important to work on yoga breathing to enhance the experience and rejuvenate and nourish the body by building the reserves of Prana. Here are the several benefits of practicing Pranayama:
- It is the art of breathing and teaches us how to breathe properly. Most people breathe from the chest, using only a part of lungs for breathing. This is an unhealthy habit and can cause health problems. Pranayama can increase the capacity of the lungs and bring in more oxygen into the body.
- It improves the metabolism of the body and aids digestion.
- Pranayama is also good for improving concentration and focus.
- There are various types of breathing in pranayama. Some of these are: Kapalabhati pranayama, Ujjayi pranayama, Anulom vilom pranayama, Bhramari pranayama, Bhastrika pranayama.