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his heart had stopped, which meant that his brain was being deprived of oxygen. On the ninth day, he emerged from the 'grave' in perfect health as testified by the medical doctors and scientists attending the demonstration.
This may not be a great spiritual feat, but it is certainly a scientific feat and guideline. Through the breath the involuntary processes of the body, brain and mind can be mastered. Control over these processes enables one to direct the major course and destiny of one's life and death. Now it is also established that conscious breathing is registered in the frontal brain (responsible for evolution and higher awareness), while spontaneous breathing is recorded in the primitive brain, once again validating the accuracy of yogic discovery.
In research that Stephen Elliott' carried out in Texas, USA, it was documented that the breath rate has a direct relationship with the heart rate. The average pattern of breathing significantly influences the general state of the heart. It can induce hypertension or relaxation, and impacts the overall health and longevity of an individual. He concurred that those who habituate themselves to slow, deep abdominal breathing (through practices such as pranayama) are healthier. Elliott came upon his findings after several years of personal yogic practice and established the circular relationship between breath and states of mind. With the help of electromyography, the shift towards autonomous balance with relatively slower, deeper and synchronous breathing was verified.
All over the world, sports institutes have also been researching the effects of breathing on performance. Among the initial researchers, Bowerman and Brown (1971) suggested that the breathing should be steady and rhythmic for athletes to master speed. They recommended learning to exhale in patterns that coincide with foot strikes, and suggested puffing the cheeks just before exhaling (in other words, kumbhaka) to enhance carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange in the lungs. Bramble and Carrier (1983) also observed that the higher the performance levels of runners,
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| SR No. | 009371 |
| Book Title | Pran and Pranayam |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Niranjananand Saraswati Swami |
| Publisher | Yoga Publication Trust |
| Publication Year | 2009 |
| Total Pages | 369 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Classification | Book_Devnagari |
| File Size | 11 MB |