Pranayama refers to breathing exercises which clear the physical and emotional obstacles in our body to free the breath and so the flow of prana – life energy. Regular and sustained practice of Pranayama can supercharge your whole body.
The first thing we do when we are born is breathe. As adults, we take between 12 to 20 breaths per minute, thus supplying oxygen to our cells and also eliminating toxins from the body. Yet most of us don’t give much attention to it.
The word Pranayama in Sanskrit is made up of two essential parts – Prana and Ayama. The Prana word means life force, the vital energy while the word Ayama stands for control, hence it is termed as Pranayama. It is the essential energy which actually manifests itself as one of the most self-energizing forces which embrace the body of a person. When this particular force enfolds in the body with entire control, it is termed as Pranayama.
The main objective of Pranayama isn’t just about inhaling and exhaling into a given relationship with each other. Neither is it setting up a given length of the breath.
The various pranayama practices render a lot of different possibilities for the following of the breath.
Whenever you are following your own breath, your mind is actually drawn into the different activities of the breath.
Pranayama essentially prepares us in this particular manner for the stillness of the meditation which comes. There are numerous Pranayama yoga practices.
To resume, Pranayama is the control and extension of breath through breathing exercises that help balance the right and left brain, helping you calm down and be more productive. Through Pranayama, toxins in the body are released, which leads to better health. The toxins of the mind are released as well, making you more confident and positive.
