|
Effects of pranayama
|
|
|
|
As you know the word pranayama means salutation to the prana; prana being the vital force that maintains all aspects of Creation. For a human being prana can be derived from anything whether its animate or inanimate. Everything has prana and we can absorb prana from everything around us. Pranayama is normally wrongly understood as a breathing exercise which increases oxygen intake of the body.
We absorb prana through our five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. Prana is everywhere and we absorb Prana from everything we come directly or indirectly in contact with. We derive prana from the food we eat, the air we breathe, the clothes we wear, just about anything can give us prana.
In the case of food, food of a particular kind of prana is suitable for a particular person may not be suitable for another person e.g. heavy foods are necessary for a warrior, lighter foods are good for a yogi. It is important to wear natural fabrics, because natural fabrics have a natural frequency of prana.
This is why pranayams are recommended after individually assessing the energy patterns of the person. The basic purpose of pranayamas is to cleanse the nadis (energy channels) and increase the capacity gradually so that they are able to take the force at the time of the kundalini awakening. The pranayamas are first used to heat the body and then cool it. A rapid pranayama is always followed by a slow one so that at any given time the body remains in balance. It is therefore essential that pranayamas are done under supervision of the Guru.
Before any pranayama, sit in a comfortable position and make sure your back is straight. Lets start with ujayi pranayama. Gently become aware of your breathe, and then move your awareness to the throat and feel the breathe being drawn in through the throat and not the nostril. There will be a soft hissing kind of sound from the throat at the time of inhalation and exhalation. Remember as you inhale your stomach moves out and as you exhale your stomach goes in.
Once you are comfortable with this you can make your breathe deeper and longer. Ujayi pranayama first heats your body and then cools it. If done just before sleeping it relieves insomnia as it has a tranquilising effect. It can be done at any time during walk, asanas, or even sitting in an office. It is the most natural way of breathing, those who have observed a new born baby would notice that it is breathing in ujayi!
|
|
|
|
—The writer Yogi Ashwini Ji is the
head of Dhyan Foundation, Delhi.
For Details contact: ashwiniyogi@yahoo.co.in
|
|
|
|
|
|
August 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
