PRANAYAMA- MEANING, BENEFITS,TYPES

 PRAN- Life force      AYAM- Regulate
                    This is a sanskrit word which describes a yoga breathing exercise that have the ability to increase the energy, release your stress, improve your mental activity and improve physical health as well. This is the fastest way to calm down.

 WHAT DOES PRANA MEAN?
                 *   Prana is a universal life force. It is the energy which distinguish the living from dead. A dead person is a body without prana and living person is a body with prana.
                 *   Prana moves in our body through different channels and different centers. Those energy centers are known as CHAKRAS. We have 7 chakras in our body.
                 *  Thousands of channels through which this energy flows is known as NADI'S.

CHAKRAS

        SOURCES 0F PRANA:
                       1)FOOD: Veg food and fresh food has more prana than stale food and meat. This is the reason  why vegetarian diet is more prefered by the saints and yogi's. So we have to take more amount of veg and fresh food in our diet.

                       2)SLEEP: Before going bed we are tired, but after waking up we feel energised.
                      3)STATE OF MIND:Better mood is also a source of prana.
  4)BREATH:Direct and instant source of prana.

           We all know that prana flows in the energy channels,

            ●  If the energy channel is smooth then you will be calm ,energised, enthusiastic and positive minded.
            ●  If the energy channel is blocked then prana doesn't flow and show jerk, which make you sad,worried,uncertain,fear and negative minded .                                               

        BENEFITS OF PRANAYAMA:
           ✦ Calm mind
           ✦ Reduce worries and anxiety
           ✦ Improves our focus and attention
           ✦ Boosts immune system
           ✦ Energized body and mind
           ✦ Slow down aging process

      There exists a relationship between emotion and breath, so the emotions can be controlled by our breath. Breath can be controlled by pranayama.
    ONE SINGLE BREATH SHOULD INCLUDE;
     ✦  PURAKA- Prolonged inhalation
     ✦  KUMBAKA- Retention of breath
     ✦  RECHAKA- Prolonged exhalation
     ✦  SHUNYAKA- Suspension of breath (post exhalation)
     One should start practising the above 4 steps in order slowly.
      Pranayama teaches us how to live our life by controlling our emotions.

    TYPES OF PRANAYAMA:

                          There are many types, here only important ones are listed;
                        1)Quiet breathing
                        2)Deep breathing
                        3)Fast breathimg
                        4)Tribandha pranayama
                        5)Nadi shuddi pranayama (or) Anulom vilom
                        6)Surya bhedan pranayama
                        7)Bhramri
                        8)Kapal bhati

                        9)Bhastrika, etc.,

             Procedure of doing all types of pranayama  are disscused in next article

              ★★★★ IN THIS WORLD WIDE PANDEMIC SITUATION (COVID) WHICH MAINLY AFFECTS LUNGS WILL BE OVER COMED BY PRACTISING PRANAYAMA DAILY★★★★