The Science of Pranyama!

OUR LIFE SPAN IS ONE BREATH - WE STARTED OUR LIFE WITH THE FIRST INHALATION CRYING LOUDLY & ONE DAY WE WILL FINALLY BREATHE OUT END OUR LIFE. OUR GAME OF LIFE DEPENDS ON HOW FARTHEST WE CAN PUSH THAT LAST EXHALATION? 

IT'S POSSIBLE BY ADOPTING DISCIPLINED BREATHING PRACTICE! 

How, one may ask?

All we need to do is to understand the importance of Pranayama, the process of disciplined, controlled and conscious breathing.

The word Pranayama is made of two syllables - Prana and Ayam - Breath when it is converted into oxygenated breath it is called Prana Vayu in the heart - from there this blood travels through the arteries to various parts of the body - the one going towards head is Udana Vayu, that travels towards lower extremities is called Apana Vayu, the one transverses around the thoracic region is called Samana Vayu thus the envelop of the oxygenated blood in every cell is called Vyana Vayu. All these, Pancha Maha Prana, together form the Vital Energy Sheath (Pranamaya Kosha).

The oxygenated blood (through internal respiration) removes toxin from every cell and becomes impure, the venous blood that after circulation reaches the heart, pumped into lungs and absorbs the oxygen from the breath, inhaled once again get purified as oxygenated blood, that is pumped back to the heart thereby completing the Circulation of the Circulatory System.

The Circulatory System not only removes toxin from the cells but also repairs the cells in turn repairs the tissues (the group of cells) - these healthy tissues make the organs healthy and these organs function efficiently and efficiently that the organs become healthy and make the person free from diseases, and ailments. 

Conscious deep breathing can give us about 6 to 8 percent oxygen, which 20% in nature. However, regular practice of Pranayama can give us 12% to 15% of Oxygen, thereby prevent all serious ailments.

There is a misconception about pranayama that Anulom - Vilom, Kapalbhati are pranayama. Anulom - Vilom, is breathing practice, called Nadi Shodhana - as this practice cleans the three major nadis - Pingala (Surya Nadi), Ida (Chandra Nadi) and the Sushumna Nadi that starts from Bhruguti (the point between eyebrows) and passes through spinal cord, when done along with Tr--Maha Bandha, it is called Nadi Shodhana Pranayama. 

The Kapalbhati is one of the Shath Kriya (the first component of Hatha Yoga for Cleaning Body organs) cleans the network 0f nervous system starts from naval (Solar Plexus) carrying the signals and make the flow of vital energy through the Nadis are smooth to brain cells uninterrupted, thereby, makes our face radiant. So, the practice is called Kapalbhati (Kapal means forehead and Bhati means radiating).

We must not mistake breathing practices as pranayama - unless we apply Tri-Maha-bandha (three major locks) it is just breathing practice not Pranayama. 

The three bandhas are Moola Bandha (contracting anus sphincter and hold it tight all through the pranayama), Moola Bandha tightens entire large intestine and stomach and pushes up the diaphragm from bottom. Breathing in is Poorak, slowly gradually take full breath filling lungs, next apply Jalandhar Bandha (bending head down closing the seven passages through the throat, then fixing firmly the chin at jugular notch) and finally apply Uddiyana Bandha (here we have to pull up the diaphragm and hold tight). By this process we put pressure on the lungs from all the sides, which is filled in with breath. During this period, the heart pumps the blood into lungs. e to this pressure on the lungs, pumped blood absorbs maximum amount of oxygen from the breath that contains 20% of oxygen.

If we notice the mechanism of pranayama - we will understand that the breath in the lungs is subjected to pressure from all the sides. When the pressure or temperature is increased the chemical action is also increased, thus blood could absorb maximum amount of oxygen, up to 12 to 15 percent of Oxygen, the presence of water vapour, inert gases and nitrogen along with Oxygen, by nature is combustible, becomes useful and gives life.

When we are angry, excited, or worried, either we forget to breathe or take shallow breath, that is rapid throat breath (kantha shwas) - breath doesn't reach lungs, and the impure blood pumped by heart would go back to heart without being cleaned, it is as good as allowing the same oil to circulate in the engine again and again till it is filled with all dirt - such impure blood with all toxins in circulation causes all sorts of ailment.

When we breathe consciously allowing breath to reach lungs and remain there for few seconds, then blood may be able to absorb about 5% to 8% of oxygen, by breathing practices blood can absorb up to 10% of oxygen and when we do pranayama applying tri-Maha-bandhas then we can absorb maximum amount of oxygen say up to 15% of oxygen.

The above one is the major benefit of practicing Pranayama.

Spiritually, Pranayama has a very important step in mastering the mind and enable us to get to state of meditation.

In the Ashtanga Yoga of Maharishi Patanjali, Pranayama is fourth and last Anga (Part) of Bahiranga (external) Yoga: the Yama the rules for society (Don'ts), next is the Niyama the rules (Dos) for every individual, next is Asana for tuning physical body, enhancing endurance that we can hold meditative posture for a long time and the fourth one is Pranayama besides giving body good amount of oxygenated blood, SOURCE FOR VITAL ENERGY, PRANA, the pranayama also helps in fixing mind at one point (concentration) and this happens, when we fix our mind on breath (the process is called PRANA DHARANA that is fix the mind on the breath, we may find it is easy to control mind.

Next Anga (limb) of Ashtanga Yoga is Pratyahara that connects Bahiranga Yoga to Antaranga Yoga.

Mind is connected to outer world through the senses, five input devices to mind that give all sorts of information to mind. The information received by mind trigger thoughts that cause emotions. Mind is thus subjected to fluctuations, modification, and restless.

Till, the input devices of mind are not closed down, the senses will be in contact with external world, we would not be able to direct mind towards inner consciousness, and the Soul. The process of closing down the senses and mind moves towards inner consciousness, is called Pratyahara.

Now we may fix the mind on an object, image of God or Om (ॐ) or on any sound, or chanting omkar very gently, the mind slowly gets into state of absolute peace. The breathing slows down, at times we may not breathe this is the Dharana (concentration). 

Slowly, Soul becomes one with Divine Source, in an absolute peace, in an emancipated state it is Dhyana (Meditation) inner consciousness silently feel the vibrations of NATURE, slowly assimilates with the Universal Soul. It is the state of Samadhi in state of salvation.

Om Tat Sat!