Pranayama: Basics of Pranayam

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Pranayama: Basics of Pranayam

Pranayam term is formed of joining two words- pran and ayam. It means strengthening and expanding the life force. Pran is the life energy or force, which empowers all the work of mind, body and senses. Without pran, our body is dead. Pran is also responsible for keeping our mind and body healthy. When this power gets reduced or blocked, our body is diseased.

There are five types of pran- pran, apan, saman, vyan and udan. They are located at different places in our body and perform to keep it healthy.

Ayam means expanding or strengthening this pran. It is essential for keeping our body and mind healthy and powerful. Pranayam is important for protecting us from diseases, sickness. Correct practice of pranayam will eradicate diseases from roots.

It is very important to understand the methods of pranayam before actually practicing it.

-       Use a sheet spread on the floor while practicing pranayam, and keep your back, neck and head straight.

-       After daily routine in the morning, practice it empty stomach. In case you are doing it in evening, do it at least 5 hours after lunch.

-       Pranayam mudra is used for pressing nostrils through thumb, ring finger and little finger. First and middle fingers are not used.

-       Inhaling of breath is called purak, holding is called kumbhak and exhaling is called rechak. In yoga, exhaling is must before you inhale.

-       It is important to hold your breath in pranayam, but during illness, it can be practiced without holding of breath.

-       Mulbandh, Uddiyan Bandh and Jalandhar Bandh are important in pranayam. Rectum is held upward in Mulbandh. Uddiyan Bandh is holding stomach inward after exhaling and Jalandhar Bandh is pressuring muscles of neck and bending chin forward.

-       In Pranayam, breath is held as per the requirement and released slowly. The ratio between purak, kumbhak and rechak is 1:4:2

-       Person practicing pranayam should eat satvik and light food.

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See also: Pranayama, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)