What is Pranayama? Definition, Benefits and Effects

Prana is life, it keeps living beings alive and active. Where Pranayama makes Prana regular and detailed, on the other hand, it makes the power of Prana free and bright. Through Pranayama, Prana flows in the nerves and cells.

Pranayama consists of purak, rechak and kumbhaka. Pranayama is the process of disciplining the prana. Pranayama is proper regulation and planning of breathing. Through pranayama, a person can awaken his dormant consciousness by controlling the breath, mind and prana.

What is Pranayama?

Pranayama is the proper regulation and planning of breathing activities. Pranayama is the proper practice of breathing. The systematic expansion and restraint of Prana is Pranayama. The body gets strength from Pranayama, while the role of consciousness-awakening is also created. Pranayama purifies the body, blood and nervous system.

Pranayama results by controlling and controlling breathing. Therefore, Poorak, Rechak and Kumbhaka are called pranayama, but the seeker who does meditation understands this distinction line clearly. We can try to understand this secret by the example of the electric bulb. The electric current flowing in the wires is different from the wire and the bulb. Although electricity is disciplined and organized by the bulb and wire. Just like an electric current, Prana is also awakened and disciplined through Pranayama. According to Maharishi Patanjali, Pranayama is the separation of the movement of breath and exhalation. When breathing becomes disciplined and reaches a state of control, then pranayama is complete. “Prana Vai Balam” means Prana is the force. According to this, when Prana, after being full of power, spreads in every part of the body, it makes the body strong.

Benefits of pranayama

Thousands of veins circulate blood for heat and mobility. The impurities in the blood are purified by Pranayama and energy is accumulated. Pranayama is not only an exercise in the regulation of breath and exhalation, but it is also a means of opening the doors of consciousness by keeping the mind and senses under control. Pranayama is visible from above, the action of transmission and cessation of breathing, but by Pranayama all the senses and mind are affected. Chemical changes take place every moment due to the action and reaction of life force. Due to this change, old cells are broken and new ones are formed. Pranayama plays an important role in arranging this wear and tear, although every living being performs Purak, Kumbhaka and Rechak in the natural order, due to overwork, this process does not become natural and methodical. This leads to an increase in morbidity.

By doing pranayama, the body and mind, consciousness attain health. Normally, only a small part of the lungs is used in the supplementary and purgative process of breathing. We can make full use of the lungs by doing complete Purak and complete catharsis through pranayama. Due to the process of Pranayama, the lungs take in more pure air. The process of exhaling for a long time (long catharsis) expels the impure air, which makes the body radiant and healthy. With the action of Pranayama, the dormant powers of the brain start awakening and every part of the body become healthy and beautiful.

Also read – Scientific importance of asanas and compound actions

Effect of pranayama on lungs

Pranayama has a direct effect on the lungs. There are millions of cottages of small fibers in the lungs. Their function is to fill the breath and release it. When the breath goes in, the lungs expand and then they contract when there is an exhalation. Normally a person breathes 15 to 20 times in a minute. This breathing becomes the basis of all the processes of the body. With this, the lungs purify the blood and keep the body free from diseases.

In the process of Pranayama, the amount of breath, and inhibition is the main thing. The deeper and longer the breath, the more it helps to expand the lungs and purify the blood.

Pranayama and Health

Where Asana is useful for health, Pranayama is going to infuse new life into it. Pranayama develops and awakens the life force. Pranayama becomes the instrument of this awakening.

Pranayama is a life-giving power, which not only improves physical health but also increases the purity of the mind. This provides an opportunity for the spiritual power to awaken. Pranayama paves the way for mental peace and spiritual development. It leads to the attainment of Samadhi and the person starts travelling towards his own self. Physical health is his first benefit.

Effect of Prana on the body and mind

Maharishi Patanjali, while discussing the result of Pranayama, has written that “Tat Kshiyate Prakashavaranam” – Through Pranayama, the shadow cover on the light of knowledge-ignorance becomes weak. The shadow cover on consciousness is removed. Pranayama is not only an exercise of breathing, but it is an important process to increase the purity of the mind and develops knowledge. Purification of the senses and concentration of the mind increases.

Fire is useful for burning the impurities of metals like gold, silver etc. Similarly, pranayama is necessary for burning the disorders of the senses. 

Prana is an essential element for the journey of life. Without them the journey of life gets fragmented. Food and water are a must to hold the body, so life cannot exist without prana. Prana is the ever-flowing life force. He remains sharper than life. Prana is activated by air, respiratory tract, Poorak, Rechak and Kumbhaka. Blood is purified by Pranayama and Jathragni (digestion system) develops, and energy, flexibility and radiance increase in the body