Mind Blowing Healing Benefits Of Pranayama
Pranayama is the term used for breathing exercises. They are used to develop control of the breath, enhance physical and mental health, and help you connect with your inner self.
Practised in India since ancient times, it is said that practising pranayama regularly can lead to long life, health, happiness and contentment in both this world and beyond.
What is Pranayama?
Pranayama is the science of breath-work – a practise that is used in yoga and meditation, and has numerous therapeutic uses both for mental clarity as well as stress relief and relaxation.
Prana (life force) and ayama (expansion) is about expanding one’s life force using the breath. It is the fourth of eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga.
Yama means restraint, and niyama means observances. These two concepts are the basis for all yogic philosophy. Yama and niyama are used to help you gain control over your body, mind, speech, actions and thoughts so that you can live in harmony with your higher self.
Healing Benefits
Breathwork is an amazing tool for self healing. Increased oxygen intake improves circulation to the heart.
Rapid breathwork aides in clearing stagnant energy, emotional and spiritual blockages and brings clarity.
Through pranayama practices like Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) and Bhramari (humming bee) many people have reported feeling less anxious when they practice these techniques regularly over time because they are able to slow down their breathing which helps them relax more easily during stressful situations when they may otherwise feel overwhelmed.
Self-Regulation
Self-regulation is the ability to manage one's emotions and thoughts in order to achieve a balanced state of mind.
Pranayama is an excellent practise for self-regulation, as it helps you stay calm during stressful situations, and brings you back to centre when your mind starts racing.
In addition, pranayama helps with anxiety and depression by releasing toxins from the body. These toxins can build up over time in our bodies causing us to feel anxious or depressed.
In this way, pranayama helps neutralise those negative feelings associated with these states of mind.
Reconnect with Yourself
Pranayama is a great way to reconnect with yourself, as it helps you let go of stress and relax your mind. It also allows you to get in touch with your body and breath, which can help you feel more connected to the present moment.
When we're stressed out, it's often because we're thinking about all kinds of things that aren't happening right now — things from our past or the future that might not even happen at all. By practising pranayama regularly, we can learn how to stop worrying so much and allow ourselves some peace and quiet.
5 Pranayama Techniques
Sitali is a cooling breath technique that helps to flush out heat from the body. It can help open up nasal passages and reduce snoring by increasing airflow.
Bastrika is a powerful breathing exercise because it stimulates both sides of your brain simultaneously. It can help you better manage stress, lower blood pressure and sleep better at night.
Kapalabhati is a cleansing practice that involves a rapid movement of inhalation and exhalation through the nose, with short pauses at the end of each inhalation and exhalation. This technique increases energy levels by pushing oxygen through the body.
Bhramari, also known as Humming Bee Breath, is a calming breathing practice that soothes the nervous system and helps to connect us with our truest inner nature.
Sheetali helps cool down the entire body by increasing production of sweat on your skin when done regularly before bedtime or in hot weather conditions such as summertime heat waves or during an illness like flu where sweating is necessary as part of recovery process to expel toxins from our bodies through perspiration due to high fever levels caused by viruses attacking us through our respiratory tracts (mouths/noses).
The benefits of pranayama are endless. By focusing on your breath, you are able to slow down the mind and get back in touch with yourself at a deeper level. Pranayama also promotes good health by helping control blood pressure as well as stress levels in the body which will lead to more energy.
