In Sanskrit, breath control is called Pranayama, the travel of life energy. By controlling the breath,we control the lungs,which controls the heart rhythm, which through the pace maker controls the Brain rhythm.Thus one gets a handle on to the autonomic nervous system,indirectly. The Hata yoga, is aimed at getting superhuman powers through Asanas (body postures) and Pranayama.
The untapped super power within each person is locked up at the base of the spinal chord in a spot called Mooladhara. Normally the nerve pulses along the spine travel up and down through two nerve paths along the spine.Normally we have no control over this system. By employing locks called Moola bandha,and Jalandhara bandha,and employing uddiyana, these nerve pulses are made to travel along a third path in the middle of the spine,where the upward and down ward pulsed collide, producing heat,which opens the gate to release the locked energy,upward along the spine to the brain,where this produces a blocking of the pulses to the cerebral cortex,producing a thoughtless state. These techniques are kept secret,and must be practiced under the supervision of an expert teacher.Health condition is also considered for qualifying entry into this yoga.
The final thoughtless state reached is same irrespective of the method employed for reaching there.This is the Samadhi state.While remaining in this state breathing is very shallow and minimal to keep life safe,without any activity,so that minimum burning of the metabolism takes place,there by prolong the life span. Youthful body will also be preserved.
Even without going to these extreme end, one can practice Pranayama with good benefits. There are so many varieties of Pranayama given in Hatayoga. The inhalation time,holding time and exhaling time,are different. Safest Pranayama is called Saraswatha. It involves a deep inhalation through left nostril,while the right nostril is kept closed by the right hand thumb,and without holding the breath,exhale through the right nostril(removing the thumb,and closing the left nostril with right hand ring finger).When exhalation is complete,immediately inhale through the right nostril and when complete, close the right nostril with thumb as before and exhale through left nostril(removing the ring finger). This is one pranayama. One can do as many cycles as possible,always feeling comfortable.No discomfort should be felt through out the full cycles.
The next best pranayama is to include holding of the breath after inhaling.
After inhaling as before,when lungs are full close both the nostrils,the left with the ring finger as before and the right with the thumb as before.After holding the
breath for a comfortable time,removing the thumb,exhale through the right nostril.At the end inhale through the right nostril,and close the right nostril with the thumb,while keeping the left nostril closed with ring finger.With both
nostrils closed hold the breath for a comfortable time.Then exhale through the left nostril by lifting the ring finger,while keeping the right nostril closed with the thumb.It is better to count at comfortable speed,mentally,while inhaling 4 counts,and holding for the same speed 16 counts.Then exhale for 8 counts.
Begin inhaling for 4 counts,holding for 16 counts and exhaling for 8 counts.This is one pranayama cycle. Because of the asymmetry in timing,one will feel breathless after some cycles. Stop at once.Gradually one can increase the ratio,to
8-32-16--8-32-16.The maximum is 16-64-32-16-64-32.These asymmetric pattern is rather dangerous to the heart. Therefore this asymmetric pranayama should be done under expert guidance. Safely one can do it with equal duration, 4-4-4 and,
4-4-4.and then 8-8-8 and 8-8-8. If comfortable can try 16-16-16 and 16-16-16. Beyond this is not necessary.
A note of warning: Always stop at the first sign of discomfort. Get a doctor's permission of your he health condition before starting any Pranayama or Hatayoga Asana practice is very necessary to avoid any dangerous health condition possible in these ventures.
The untapped super power within each person is locked up at the base of the spinal chord in a spot called Mooladhara. Normally the nerve pulses along the spine travel up and down through two nerve paths along the spine.Normally we have no control over this system. By employing locks called Moola bandha,and Jalandhara bandha,and employing uddiyana, these nerve pulses are made to travel along a third path in the middle of the spine,where the upward and down ward pulsed collide, producing heat,which opens the gate to release the locked energy,upward along the spine to the brain,where this produces a blocking of the pulses to the cerebral cortex,producing a thoughtless state. These techniques are kept secret,and must be practiced under the supervision of an expert teacher.Health condition is also considered for qualifying entry into this yoga.
The final thoughtless state reached is same irrespective of the method employed for reaching there.This is the Samadhi state.While remaining in this state breathing is very shallow and minimal to keep life safe,without any activity,so that minimum burning of the metabolism takes place,there by prolong the life span. Youthful body will also be preserved.
Even without going to these extreme end, one can practice Pranayama with good benefits. There are so many varieties of Pranayama given in Hatayoga. The inhalation time,holding time and exhaling time,are different. Safest Pranayama is called Saraswatha. It involves a deep inhalation through left nostril,while the right nostril is kept closed by the right hand thumb,and without holding the breath,exhale through the right nostril(removing the thumb,and closing the left nostril with right hand ring finger).When exhalation is complete,immediately inhale through the right nostril and when complete, close the right nostril with thumb as before and exhale through left nostril(removing the ring finger). This is one pranayama. One can do as many cycles as possible,always feeling comfortable.No discomfort should be felt through out the full cycles.
The next best pranayama is to include holding of the breath after inhaling.
After inhaling as before,when lungs are full close both the nostrils,the left with the ring finger as before and the right with the thumb as before.After holding the
breath for a comfortable time,removing the thumb,exhale through the right nostril.At the end inhale through the right nostril,and close the right nostril with the thumb,while keeping the left nostril closed with ring finger.With both
nostrils closed hold the breath for a comfortable time.Then exhale through the left nostril by lifting the ring finger,while keeping the right nostril closed with the thumb.It is better to count at comfortable speed,mentally,while inhaling 4 counts,and holding for the same speed 16 counts.Then exhale for 8 counts.
Begin inhaling for 4 counts,holding for 16 counts and exhaling for 8 counts.This is one pranayama cycle. Because of the asymmetry in timing,one will feel breathless after some cycles. Stop at once.Gradually one can increase the ratio,to
8-32-16--8-32-16.The maximum is 16-64-32-16-64-32.These asymmetric pattern is rather dangerous to the heart. Therefore this asymmetric pranayama should be done under expert guidance. Safely one can do it with equal duration, 4-4-4 and,
4-4-4.and then 8-8-8 and 8-8-8. If comfortable can try 16-16-16 and 16-16-16. Beyond this is not necessary.
A note of warning: Always stop at the first sign of discomfort. Get a doctor's permission of your he health condition before starting any Pranayama or Hatayoga Asana practice is very necessary to avoid any dangerous health condition possible in these ventures.
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