Importance of Pranayam and Its Benefits

SR No.: 269092
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Total Pages: 5
Language: English
Classification: Article & Yoga
File Size: 325 KB

Page 1

PRANAYAM IMPORTANCE OF PRANYAM AND ITS BENEFITS
Pranayam has the capacity of freeing the mind from untruthfulness, ignorance and all other painful and unpleasant experiences of the body and mind; and when the mind becomes clean it becomes easy for the Sadhak/sadhika to concentrate on the desired object and it becomes possible for him to progress further in the direction of Dhyan and Samadhi.
By Yog asans, we remove the distortions and disabilities of the physical body and bring it into discipline. Ilowever Pranayams influence the subtle and the physical bodies in a greater measure than Yogsans and that too in a perceptible manner. In the human body, lungs, heart and brain hold very important position and depend on each other heavily for their health.
Physically. Pranayam appears to be a systematic exercise of respiration, which makes the lungs stronger, improves blood circulation, makes the man healthier and bestows upon him the boon of a long life. Physiology teaches us that the air (Prana) we breathe in fills our lungs and spreads in the entire body, providing it its essential form. The lungs take the healthy air to the heart and throw the useless material like carbon dioxide out through the act of exhalation. If this action of the respiratory system is done regularly and efficiently, lungs become stronger and blood becomes pure.
However, most of the people do not have the habit of breathing deeply with the result that only one-fourth part of the lungs is brought into action and 75 percent remains idle. Like the honeycomb, lungs are made of about 73 million cells, comparable to a sponge in their making. In normal breathing, to which all of us are accustomed, only about 20 million pores in the lungs get oxygen, whereas remaining 53 million pores remain deprived of it, with the result that they get contaminated by several diseases like tuberculosis. respiratory diseases and ailments like coughing, bronchitis etc.
In this way, the inefficient functioning of the lungs affects the process of blood purification. Heart weakens because of this with a constant possibility of untimely death. It is for this reason that the importance of Pranayam has come to be recognised for a healthy long life. Several diseases can be averted by regular practice of Pranayam. Hence, it is obvious that the knowledge of the science of Pranayama and its regular practice enables a man to lead a healthy and long life. It is for this reason that in several Hindu religious rites, Pranayam is found to have been introduced as an essential element.
Mental disturbances like excitement, anxiety, fear, anger, disappointment, lust for sex (lasciviousness) and other mental perversions can be calmed down by regular practice of Pranayam. Besides, Pranayam practice improves the functions of the brain cells with the result that memory and the faculty of discrimination and observation improves, making concentration and meditation easy for the Sadhak/sadhika.
Another benefit of Pranayam is that by its regular practice, habit of deep breathing is developed which results in several health benefits. It is said that the nature determines our life span on the basis of the number of respirations we do.
SOME RULES FOR PRANAYAM Select a clean and peaceful place for doing Pranayama. Sit in any of the Asanas, viz. Padmasana, Sidhasana or Vajrasana, whichever you find convenient.