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CREATING HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS
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(6) increased appetite; and (7) clean blood vessels, bronchi, bowels, etc.
Correspondingly, there are seven basic ingredients of good health: (1) flexibility of spinal column; (2) efficiency of lungs; (3) efficiency of heart; (4) efficiency of kidneys; (5) efficiency of liver, spleen and digestive system; (6) balanced hormonal secretions; and (7) strong nervous system.
PRANAYAM The process of breathing is not only a vital means of sustaining life but is also the foundation of wholesome development. In a scientific manner, Patanjali proceeds from the external sheath of man and slowly proceeds to the subtler sheaths. Breath and mind are closely interdependent and interpenetrating. Control of breath means the cessation of the outgoing and ingoing movements of breath. Breath is the gross representative of the subtle, vital force inside the body. Just as by stopping of the key of a timepiece you do not allow it to move and the cog wheels, and finally the hair-spring, come to a standstill, by controlling the force which sets into motion the mind, we can stop the motion of the mind. It is Prana that makes the mind move. If Prana is stopped, the mind cannot move and a state of stillness (Manonasha) ensues.
Breathing comprises inhaling (puraka), exhaling (rechaka), and retaining the breath (kumbhaka). Correct breathing is healthy. In normal conditions, the average rate of breathing is 15-20 breaths per minute. It means breathing in for two seconds and breathing out for two seconds. But the number of breaths can escalate to sixty when the mind is agitated, which is highly detrimental to health. Through proper practice, one can bring down the breathing rate to a level that is beneficial for health.
At the heart of breathing exercises is the retention of breath (kumbhaka). The extended kumbhaka moments
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