Pranayam Breathing for Your Health

Prana is the Life Force that is within us all. In Sanskrit the word Prana has two definitions, breath and life. Ayurveda teaches us that when we come into this world the first thing we do is take a breath in and when we leave this world the last thing we do is exhale. Our goal is to maintain and enhance the prana that is in our body. Ayurveda texts also state that good health is the key to happiness.

Most people don't know how to breathe properly. Most of our breaths are shallow and don't give our entire body what it needs. There are many benefits to Pranayam breathing. First and foremost it will help to strengthen your immune system and give you mental balance.

Pranayam (breath control) is an ancient breathing technique that has been around for thousands of years. It originates in India and is thought to help "cure" almost any illness, disorder or disease. In yogic traditions it is used as a means to prepare the body for deep meditation. It also prepares the mind for the creation of altered states that are instinctive and essentially harmless. It is said that true enlightenment can be discovered while in these altered states. The practice of Pranayam breathing allows the body to relax and the mind to become still.

The way we breathe is important for our bodies to receive everything that it needs. Scientific studies have shown that we breathe through one nostril easier than we do the other at any given time. This can change throughout the day since your nasal cycle corresponds with your brain function. Certain physical and mental imbalances are caused because we are not breathing effectively through each nostril. There are several techniques that are used in Pranayam breathing. The most basic technique that I'll explain here is used to coordinate left and right brain functioning.

Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably. Wear loose clothing to give your body the freedom it needs to heal. The more relaxed your body is the more effective your breathing will be. You will use the thumb and ring finger of your right hand to close each nostril.

Step 1: Close your left nostril with your finger and inhale through your right nostril counting to four. Now pause. The pause in between breaths should only be two or three seconds long. Inhale again and this time count to eight. You will find that you have inhaled very deeply.

Step2: Now close your right nostril with your thumb and exhale through your left nostril counting to eight then pause and exhale again counting to eight. Now you have exhaled completely.

Step 3: Keeping your right nostril closed inhale through the left nostril counting to four. Now pause. Inhale again and count to eight.

Step 4: Using your finger close the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril counting to eight then pause. Exhale again counting to eight.

This completes one cycle. Continue repeating steps one to four. When you first begin to practice Pranayam you'll only want to sit in one session for about ten minutes at a time. Learning to breathe properly can be overwhelming and should be something that you introduce to your body in a timely manner.

Sources

Breese, Christine D.D., Ph.D. "How to Practice Pranayam"

"Kundalini Yoga"

"The Yoga Site"