Page Text
________________
the greater the tendency to exhale rhythmically, in synchronicity with their footsteps.
Thomas Miller, a physical trainer, carried out a research in which he administered standing, high cadence/intensity bike interval training to two groups of matched, experienced runners. In his book Programmed to Run, he explained how one group was taught breathing skills while the other group did only physical training. Post-training testing results showed that although both groups had similar physiological characteristics, the 'breathers' stayed on the treadmill longer and improved more in the 10-km time trials than did their peers. In other words, the focus on their breathing helped them become more efficient than the runners who focused on effort instead. The breathers were also seen to possess greater awareness of their circumstances (such as increases in elevation on the treadmill) and could adjust the breathing to sustain their speed longer.
Pranayama as therapy
The yogis who expounded on the practices of pranayama knew that a sustained and systematic practice would relieve the practitioner of various diseases. In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (2:17), it has been said, "Hiccups, asthma, coughs, headache, ear and eye pain, and various other diseases are due to disturbances of the vital air." It is also known that the yogis who live in the Himalayas survive on very little food and water, and are able to withstand the extreme cold without any traditional methods of insulation.
In the former Soviet Union, research was conducted on yogic practices from this point of view. Scientists researched the effects of pranayama on resistance and immunity, not only to external or internal agents, but also to the influences of the planets. Astronauts were sent into space after being trained in pranayama, and it was found that they were able to endure the altered external environment much more easily than those who had not received the training. It was concurred that the practice of pranayama improves the
139
| 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 |