The Expansion Of Life Force With Breath
What is Pranayama Practice? What are the benefits of it?
What is Pranayama Practice?
Pranayama is a breathing exercise and refers to “control of breath.”
Pranayama is a compound of two separate Sanskrit terms, Prana, and Yama. The source of our “Prana” means life force or vital energy in the body, and “Yama” is often stated as “control” or “restraint.”
However, in the Sanskrit Language, a word can have different meanings, like many other languages. By separating the name into “Pran” and “Ayama,” pranayama becomes “expansion of life force” since “Ayama” means “expansion” in the Sanskrit language.
Pranayama exercise control three breath actions and the well known Sanskrit terminologies are below;
Puraka: Inhalation
Rechaka: Exhalation
Kumbhaka: Retention
What are the benefits of Pranayama Practice?
“Breath is the link between mind and body.”
by Dan Brule the writer of Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond
Our emotional states affect our breath rhythms. Just as our inhalation and exhalation are getting slow in calm moments, it becomes panting in a moment of excitement or fear. Pranayama practice can stimulate the parasympathetic system and increase our awareness with conscious breath so we can develop our emotional states.
“Being aware of your breath forces you into the present moment — the key to all inner transformation. Whenever you are conscious of the breath, you are absolutely present. You may also notice that you cannot think and be aware of your breathing. Conscious breathing stops your mind.”
by Eckhart Tolle
Physical applying regular pranayama practice promotes our respiratory organs. Deep breathing exercises can help enlarge lung capacity, so they perform more efficiently.
Breath exercises are mindful activities, so it improves concentration and clears the mind.
“When we practice pranayama the veil is gradually drawn away from the mind and there is growing clarity. The mind becomes ready for deep meditation” (Yoga Sutra 2.52)
Finally, if you want to widen your knowledge about pranayama practices, the book “Light on Pranayama” by B.K.S. Iyengar is a must-read piece for you.
