Pranayama refers to breathing exercises that cleanse the physical and emotional obstructions in our body to liberate the breath and so the course of prana – life energy. The regular and persistent practice of Pranayama can supercharge your entire body!
The way that we budge, think, act and principally breathe adds to the flow and liveliness of prana – the widespread energy that sprints through us and everything around us.
Why is the breath so significant in Pranayama?
It’s the initial thing and the last thing we do in our lives. The one stable thing we all have. Without breath, there is no life!
Daily stressors, anxieties, and physical habits can produce physical and energetic obstructions in our bodies. Without even noticing it our breathing can become slowly more shallow or stilted. We can increase unconscious breathing patterns confining the flow of breath and prana.
When we work on freeing the breath via pranayama (breathing exercises) we are as well working on letting the life energy flow through the body. It has the outcome of energizing; soothing and healing the body, letting all things fall into place. It accurately increases and balances the life energy in your system.
The techniques
Pranayama techniques have diverse effects, much like unlike asanas/yoga poses do. Most types of pranayama are performed sitting down with an upright spine for instance in Cross-legged Pose, Hero’s Pose (on props if needed), or Lotus Pose. The scheme is for the breath to be smooth and even and not damaged even after breath retention.
Some for instance Kapalabhati Pranayama (Skull Shining Breath) is stimulating and detoxing with a fast tempo and strong abdominal contractions to eject the breath.
Others are balancing or soothing like Nadi Shodhana(Alternate Nostril Breathing) or Sama Vritti (Equal Breathing) where inhalations and exhalations are of equivalent lengths.
It is advised to practice pranayama in the morning on a bare stomach and in a room with clean air. Certain kinds of pranayama are not suggested if you have your period, are pregnant, or have digestive problems as they engage abdominal contractions with an upward motion.
To gain the real benefits of pranayama you need to grow a regular practice, but only with 20-30 minutes a day you will feel more alive, attentive, and balanced!