| Therapeutic Yoga | 1. Asanas / Pranayama | 2. Surya Namaskar | 3.Meditation |
YOGASANAS / PRANAYAMA
Asanas
Yoga mainly focuses on our nadis, the energy channels of our body. Yogasana practices are used to restructure and purify these energy channels. Prana, the life force, flows through these energy channels. The pranic flow is obstructed when there are blockages in the nadis. With regular yoga practice, pranic flow is activated and redirected to remove the blockages. When prana flows freely, the toxins are removed and the body becomes supple and light. The practitioner is now prepared for the advanced practices of yoga.
- Proper Breathing: The sound functioning of the body and mind is always dependent upon proper breathing. Correct and rhythmic breathing has a soothing effect on the mind and body.
- Proper Body Movement: A well designed sequence or a course of action, where of the all body parts are brought together to achieve the desired position.
- Proper Position: The main benefit of any asana can only be attained when the proper position is held. Furthermore, one should maintain the proper position for a considerable period of time in order to gain the maximum benefit.
- Proper Observation: Practicing asanas is not a mechanical activity. One should have self-awareness that is focused equally on all parts of the body.
Therefore, after holding the proper position, one should observe the internal changes that occur. These four components are historic as well as scientific, and they give the best results.
Pranayama
According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, pranayama is considered to be a higher level of yoga practice. In fact pranayama asana is an advanced practice that is far more than mere pranayama breathing inhalation and exhalation. So are you keen to know about pranayama techniques? Then read on our pranayama online articles which tell you more on pranayama techniques and pranayama asana.
As per the theory of pranayama the subtler a yoga practice is, the deeper its effects are. Therefore pranayama breathing techniques should be practiced systematically under proper guidance, and should never be attempted without detoxifying ones body. Purification of the body starts with pranayama breathing techniques which lead to cleansing of the nadis (energy channels). Pranayama works on the pranic level, hence, it should only be done after gaining control of the body through mastering the asanas and regulating ones diet. Pranayama techniques teach you how to do so.
However before you learn pranayama asana it is a must to know what pranayama is all about. The term prana is a combination of two Sanskrit roots, pra and na. Literally, prana means constancy - a force which is in constant motion. Pranayama is the process by which the internal pranic store is increased.
Pranayama can be better explained through the Sanskrit dictionary. The word pranayama comprises of two words prana and ayama, meaning, extension or expansion of the dimensions of vital energy.
Thus, pranayama is not merely the practice of breath control, but a technique through which prana (life force) is increased, stimulated and redirected to the higher channels of the body. By doing pranayama asanas you achieve all these goals.
Aspects of Pranayama:
Know about Pranayama Techniques
There are four important aspects of pranayama practices:
- Pooraka (inhalation)
- Rechaka (exhalation)
- Antar kumbhaka (internal breath retention)
- Bahir kumbhaka (external breath retention)
For an advanced spiritual sadhaka (practitioner) there is one more aspect of pranayama which occurs during higher states of meditation, called kevala kumbhaka, spontaneous breath retention.
The ultimate goal of pranayama, as discussed earlier, is not pranayama breathing or inhalation and exhalation or control of breath. The goal is to extend the length of the breath, and this can only be achieved by lengthening the duration of the momentary pause between inhalation and exhalation.
There are various types of yogic breathing techniques available. Few of the most famous ones are the following:
- Yogic Breathing
- Alternate Nostril Breathing
- Humming Bee Breathing
- Psychic Breathing
- Vitality Stimulating Breath
- Chandra Bheda
- Bellows Breath
| Therapeutic Yoga | 1. Asanas / Pranayama | 2. Surya Namaskar | 3.Meditation |
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