What is prana?
Prana means breath or life force. Ayama means to lengthen or hold on. Hence Pranayama refers to regulate our breath and to provide energy to our channels like chakras and Nadis. Our body is consisting of 5 elements and that create many different energies. Either positive or negative energy it depends upon our activity. Pranayama act as a regulator to increase the positive energy for a healthy life. There are certain rules to follow to do proper breathing exercises. Don’t try without proper guidance.
Benefits:
- Increasing energy flow in our body
- Removes blockages in nadis and chakras
- Reducing negativity and increasing positive vibration in our body
- Controls unwanted mind waves
- Beneficial for sinus problems
- Helps to live the present moment
- Helps to be in good physical and mental health
- Gives clarity in decision making
- Purifying blood vessels, increasing lung capacity, reduces stress.
- Gives a calm mind and happy mood always
Types of Pranayama:
- Nadi Sodhana or Nadi Sudi:
Sodhana means testing your breath. Sit in Padmasana (Lotus Pose) with closed eyes. Press your right nostril with thumb and breathe in through the left nostril and now close the left nostril with middle finger or index finger and hold the breath and now release your breath through the right nostril. Again breathe in through the right and exhale through the left nostril. Repeat it for 10 to 15 minutes every day. If you feel difficult to sit in lotus pose you can also just sit in crossed legs.
- Shithali:
It is helpful to cool down your body so don’t try this if you have a cold. Sit in a position make your mouth in “O” shape and inhale through your mouth and exhale through the nose. 5 minutes of practice helps to reduce body heat.
- Kapalapathi:
Kapalam defines to our skull. It helps to purify the blood vessels into our skull and improves concentration and reduces calories. Sit in a position inhale deeply through the nose and exhale with a force. During exhale, your belly should suck inside with the same force. Repeat it for 5 minutes.
- Ujjayi:
Inhale through the nostril and make some sound like the ocean in your throat and exhale through the mouth with sounds like “haaa”. It helps to heal throat related issues.
- Dirga :
Lying down position is most advisable. We can also call it as “Three-Part Breath” inhale 3 times with pauses tries to fill your empty stomach and full lungs and then exhale slowly. You should feel like your belly raise up during inhale. Repeat 5 – 6 times.
- Bhramri:
Close your ears with the thumb and close your eyes with the index and ring finger. Take a deep breath and exhale with the mantra “AUM”. Repeat 5 minutes daily.
- Seethkari:
It is same as shithali. Bite your teeth and breathe in through your mouth and hold on and feel the “jalandhara bhandam(produce saliva on the tongue)” and exhale through nostrils. Try it for 4-5 minutes when your body temperature is high or during summertime.
- Viloma:
Lying down position – breathe in with step by step with pauses and exhale slowly. You can also do alternate for this just inhale deeply and exhale with pauses.
- Anuloma:
Inhale and exhale in the same nostril and do alternates. It helps to clear nasal passage.
- Bhastrika:
It is very useful during wintertime. It helps to maintain body temperature. Sit in a comfortable position and inhale and exhale fast and do it 10 times and bring back to normal breathing in and slowly exhale to finish.
Note: Try everything under a proper trainer to have health benefits.
Natya mayuri. Smt. Vidyalakshmi Vidyanath
