Breathing is an involuntary process of the body; most of us pay little attention to our breathing patterns, if at all, because breathing is automatic, right? Breathing is such a special function that it is performed both unconsciously as well as consciously. There’s even an entire practice dedicated to the latter, the yogic science of breathing — Pranayama. According to early Indian healing traditions, the practice of Pranayama can help your body and mind recover and repair. Pranayama, from the two Sanskrit words “prana” meaning vital energy and “ayama” meaning control, is a fundamental yogic practice that teaches regulated breathing to clear physical and emotional blocks so that the breath and the ‘prana’ can flow freely.
Breathing is an involuntary process of the body; most of us pay little attention to our breathing patterns, if at all, because breathing is automatic, right? Breathing is such a special function that it is performed both unconsciously as well as consciously. There’s even an entire practice dedicated to the latter, the yogic science of breathing — Pranayama. According to early Indian healing traditions, the practice of Pranayama can help your body and mind recover and repair. Pranayama, from the two Sanskrit words “prana” meaning vital energy and “ayama” meaning control, is a fundamental yogic practice that teaches regulated breathing to clear physical and emotional blocks so that the breath and the ‘prana’ can flow freely.
There are many benefits of Pranayama, and in this blog, we share the top 5 reasons why Pranayama is good for you.
Reduce stress with sessions of regulated breathing
Although stress is a natural part of life, going through this for an extended period is known to cause severe damages to your well-being. Exposing yourself to any type of unwanted stress keeps your entire internal mechanism in “fight or flight mode” which is reflected through increased blood pressure, digestive disorders or anxiety. This state has a knock-on affect on your work, relationships and general ability to think clearly. Switch off your body to rest and recuperation mode with short cycles of rhythmic breathing and release all these unusual pressures, to leave you completely revitalised with a calm and clear mind.
Shed those extra calories by making Pranayama a life-long habit. Combine proper nutrition, exercise and pranayama to naturally lose or maintain your ideal body weight. Consistent cycles of “Kapalbhati Pranayama” can help trim belly fat through abdominal breathing exercise. This practice requires breath coordination at a higher rate, thus compelling a higher rate of metabolism and muscle activity. Begin regular pranayama practise and mix it with a well-balanced diet to achieve the desired results of enhanced physical and mental health.
Naturally address sleep disorders or simply improve the quality of your sleep with this ancient breathing technique. Whether you find it difficult to fall asleep, or you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night or tired the moment you get up, simple pranayama techniques such as Nadi Shodhan are thought to aid such concerns. After each session of controlled inhalation and exhalation, you will experience deep relaxation with improved blood circulation and reduced anxiety. Following a strict night-time routine, signals your body to prepare for sleep and further improves the effectiveness of Nadi Shodhan.
If you wish to enhance your will power, concentration or memory, practise pranayama along with brain enhancing exercises, from meditation and mindfulness to reading books or games like crossword puzzles or sudoku. Allow your mind to function at its best, free of all negative thoughts and doubts after each pranayama session. Choose to practise the Bee breath or Bhramari Pranayama to sooth tension around the forehead and leave you relaxed with a deep sense of peace. The enhanced oxygen to your will brain improve its cognitive features, stimulating short and long-term memory recall and enhancing your state of mind and ability to focus.
Observe your breath to control your life force
Pranayama has several benefits which all leads to one thing: optimal wellness. Pranayama focuses on regulation of the prana or the life force and aims to improve health and the way you live your life. It teaches you to slow down, gain power over your thoughts and essentially ‘control your life force’ through breathing.
Sit comfortably with your eyes closed and observe your breath; then, slowly begin the systematic breathing practice, and if you’re a beginner, our introductory guide to Pranayama will help you discover the benefits yourself. A short session promises to release all blockages, helping you awaken the inner meridians of energy to feel replenished throughout the rest of the day.
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