PRANAYAM

BREATHE AWAY AGEING

Words: Ashwini Guru Ji of Dhyan Ashram

BREATH AS AN INDICATOR OF YOUR STATE OF HEALTH

If you trace a person from being an infant to a full grown adult, you will notice, in most cases, a progressive decline in the skin texture and complexion. A baby is glowing pink whereas most adults, even in their prime youth, are plagued with a diseased skin and dull complexion. This is because, in the process of growing up, one is exposed to certain unnatural practices and stimuli from which it was kept protected in the womb.

Take for example, the simple act of breathing. If you observe a baby breathing, you would notice a pronounced abdominal movement. The stomach inflates as it breathes in and deflates as it breathes out. If you observe your own breathing patterns, most likely, you will find it to be the opposite and with little or no abdominal movement… this breathing pattern of yours, holds the key to the way you look and your present state of health.

YOG IS A HOLISTIC SCIENCE

Yog is often mistaken as a healing system of the body. Actually, it is not a healing science, it is the sum total of yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahaar, dhaarna, dhyan and samadhi. Asan and pranayama as detailed in yogsutras, are not to cure diseases, Patanjali says sthir sukham asanam – a posture in which you are still. Stillness here refers to inner and outer silence achieved by silencing the vrittis of mind; experiences of yog follow.

THE SCIENCE OF PRANAYAM

In this article we will delve on the science of pranayam. There is no dearth of masters and teachers selling pranayam as an exercise to increase oxygen supply to the physical body and boost adrenalin. The fact is, pranayam does not pertain to the physical body or the annamaya. It is a salutation to prana, and prana runs in the pranamaya kosha, which directly affects the annamaya.

When you perform a pranayam, the oxygen levels reduce. In the lungs, there are tiny sacks called alveoli where exchange of gases happens. For the absorption of gases by alveoli, a difference in pressure is required for a specific time period. Pranayams like nadi shodhanam equalises this pressure and as a result diffusion of gases does not happen. Even in a hyper-pranayam like bhastrika and kapalbhati, the movement is so fast that there is no time for absorption of gases. So, the oxygen supply reduces, and carbon dioxide levels increase. A process is initiated as a result of which, you get into certain states where the lower functions of brain reduce due to lack of oxygen and certain higher centers, which the modern science does not understand, get activated.

A TRIANGLE PROCESS

T he process of pranayam is in form of a triangle. The kundalini energy is in the form of an upward pointing triangle at the mool chakra. If you notice, in a pranayama, the movement of breath is in a triangular manner. There is an erectile tissue in our nose, which inflates when there is more blood flow. You might have observed that when you are sexually more active, at times the nose blocks (sometimes called the honeymoon nose), it is because of the erectile tissue inflation only. In a pranayam, you make a triangle and press the erectile tissue at the nose constantly on both sides. This triangle pushes the kundalini energy upwards, when optimum areas of brain are awakened. The optimum activation happens when the three nadis – ida, pingala and sushumna are balanced. T hen the kundalini energy rises and spiritual experiences follow. That is a pranayam.

ABDOMINAL BREATHING AND AGEING

We began our discussion with how a baby engages his stomach in the act of breathing. Abdominal breathing maximizes the up and down movement of the diaphragm and ensures that lungs function at their optimal level, that is, they throw out spent air completely and also adequately replenish the body with fresh air from the environment. A decreased lung activity causes toxic residue to stay put in the body manifesting as disease and loss of natural radiance.

Our physical body, formed of the five elements, is a grosser reflection of the next layer, commonly known as the aura or the pranamaya, which comprises of various energy centers and channels, called chakras and nadis respectively. T he physical lungs and respiratory system, for example, are a reflection of the functioning of the anahad chakra in the etheric body. These chakras interpenetrate the physical and etheric layers, spiraling three and a half times in clockwise, and three and a half times in the anti-clockwise direction. When a chakra moves clockwise it is pulling fresh prana in, and while in reverse motion, it is throwing out heavy prana.

Our hyperactive lifestyle and artificial environment, results in decreased activity of the chakras hampering the proper exchange of prana. As a result, there is a congestion of prana in the pranic layer and the physical body being a reflection of the pranic body, shows symptoms of old age and disease.

RE-LEARNING HOW TO BREATHE

Sit with a straight spine. Close your eyes and become aware of your breath at the tip of the nostrils and watch the rhythmic pattern of the breath. Gently take your awareness to the navel and as you inhale, inflate your stomach and as you exhale, contract it. With every breath, make your breath deeper and longer. This is abdominal breathing. As you get comfortable with this breathing pattern, take a long breath and as you exhale open your mouth and with the abdominal exhalation let out a sigh of relief. If you have done this exhalation with awareness you will realize that the air went out touching the interiors of your throat with a gentle hiss. Follow the same process now with your mouth closed. Feel the air traveling through your throat with a gentle hissing sound without apparently touching your nostrils. Slowly practice the abdominal inhalation as well with awareness of your abdomen but with the air flowing through your throat gently making a rustling sound through it. This is UjjaiPranayam. Ujjai Pranayam, is a complete balancing and purification technique, that rids the body off toxins (released during the respiration process), by heating it to a temperature where toxins are removed and simultaneously cooling it making for a complete balance. The effects of this pranayama are not felt instantly, but take 2 months of regular practice to manifest completely.

Ashwini Guru Ji is the facebook.com/official.yogamag energy and inspiration behind various initiatives of Dhyan Foundation. Dhyan Foundation conducts regular sessions on Sanatan Kriya in London and at Yogashram in Wales, UK. For more information, you may reach out to info@ dhyanfoundation.org.uk

Please note. While practicing any pranayam, sit in a well-ventilated room. Pranayam must not be practiced in a breezy or dusty environ. Similarly one should not sit directly under the direct blast of air cooler or fan while doing pranayam. It is essential that pranayam be done under the supervision of the Guru.

SUM TOTAL OF CREATION

Sun, moon, earth, water, sky, fire as well as human body are various aspects of creation, yog is the sum total of it all. When you do yog under a Guru, you start interacting with these various elements and forces and slowly you become one with them. Take, for instance, the five elements. We know the body is made up of the f ive elements, yet we cannot see them. As you do higher practices of yog, you begin to realize all these in your body and understand their basis. Then the elements listen to you and follow you. You are able to interact with them and affect changes in the body using them. As you go deeper into yog, you realise that all the heavy things leave you, age doesn’t touch you, strength of the body increases. But for this, you have to go to an ashram, make a Guru and do yog, buying off-the-shelf remedies is not going to get you that because what is sold is tied to maya, and what is tied itself cannot release you from your bondages. Yog is getting released from the body, then you access the force or energy of creation.