Top 5 benefits of Pranayama practice

Pranayama is generally defined as breath control. Breathing is the most essential and powerful activity of life but we pay very little attention to it. Just by doing some kind of breathing exercises, almost every aspect of life can be positively improved and these are just few benefits of pranayama.

Click here to know more about what is Pranayama?

The breath is the most vital process and linked with all aspects -body, mind and soul. Generally the aim of Pranayama practice is to create rhythm of pranic flow to achieve healthy body and mind.
In the ancient books like Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, is said that breath and mind are connected to each other. Hatha Yoga Pradipika says- “as long as breath fluctuate mind fluctuate too, as long as breath is still, so is the mind”.

Breathing techniques such as abdominal breath or yogic breath of Pranayama helps in improving the way of breathing habits. Breathing in this way increases the capacity of lungs, enhances oxygenation and improves the all the major functions of body and mind.

Surely you all be aware of many benefits of Pranayama, but here are the most top 5 benefits of Pranyama practice which you must know:

Take your yoga practice beyond postures

A yoga practice quite often has defined as practicing posture known as Asana. As you know yoga is a holistic practice, but most often people stuck with only asana practice and then they can not take their practice to beyond it. Click here to know true meaning of Asana.
One common question has been asked to me is – how can I take my yoga practice beyond asana? And the answer is very simple, start to incorporate breathing with our asana practice and introduce yourself to breathing exercises which will help expand your awareness beyond physical aspect. The more you will practice pranayama the more benefits you can experience.

Pranayama helps in Detoxification

One of the greatest benefits of Pranayama is purification of body as well as mind. Breathing has deeper significance then has just inhaling and exhaling. Nadi is the subtle energy channel which is the part of your pranic body (astral body).
In the yogic concept these nadis are responsible for all physical and psychological function. Any kind of blockage or impurities in these nadis can result in different physical, emotional and mental illnesses. We need to insure the smooth flow of the prana in these nadi.
In one way ultimately pranyama techniques are design in such way that make us breathe in many different ways like fast or slow, from right or left side, through nose or mouth so on, this is all about purifying body, mind, and thoughts. Some techniques like deep breathing, Kapalbhati and Nadi shodhana is suggested most useful breathing for purification of both body & mind.

Balances the nervous system

The nervous system influences nearly every aspect of our health and well-being. For the proper understanding of Pranayama, the understanding of Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system is essential. Both are subsystem of the autonomic nervous system.
Sympathetic nervous system is responsible for ‘fight and flight’ mode which actives physical or mental functions. Parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for ‘rest and digest’ which causes a general slowdown in the body’s functions in order to conserve energy.

In the yogic understanding these systems known as Surya nadi/ Pingla nadi/ Sympathetic/ hot/ male/ right nasal and Chandra nadi/ Ida nadi/ Parasympathetic/ cold/ female/ left nasal. These two systems seems working opposite to each other, but the net result is harmonious regulation.
The Nadis determine the nature and the quality of the nervous system, with its extensive network of nerves and plexus covering the entire physical body. A healthy nervous system is the secret of vitality and rejuvenation.
Nadi shodhana (alternative breathing) and savitri pranayama are is the best Pranayama to balance nervous system.

Best way to prepare for Meditation

Many of us are keen to work on meditation. Anyone who has ever tried to meditate knows the challenge of trying to focus. As the benefits of pranayama the book Hatha Yoga Pradipika is states that ‘the mind is the king of senses, the breath is the kind of the mind’. When one fluctuates or is disturbed, the other follows.
We know that prana is the link between all the connections, so anyone who practice Asana and want to meditate, grasp the missing link which is Pranayama. A unique connection between prana and the mind has been understood by yogis.
One of the powerful and effective practice yogis have suggested is pranayama which strengthen our ability to focus. This knowledge is supported by modern researches which explain the neurophysiologic link between breathing and attention.

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Spiritual awakening

Eventually all kind of yogic practices prepare us for Spiritual awakening. It is very hard to make any kind of spiritual progress without the practice of Pranayama. All the benefits of pranayama either physical or mental eventually illuminate the spiritual aspect of your life.

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Kundalini shakti is the source of all kind of energy in human organism. Practicing pranayama especially kumbhaka (breath retention) produces heat; thereby kundalini is awakened and travels upwards along sushumna nadi which unlock the flow of hidden potential.