In many ways, pranayama is the most practical and effective method for people in our modern world. This is a classic form of focused meditation that greatly benefits the physical and emotional bodies. The different techniques can be used in many different settings, from commuting to work or sitting at a workstation.
Choosing a pranayama method that fits a set of circumstances is easy. There are primary techniques as mentioned below, and there are variations on each technique:
Quiet Breathing.
Deep Breathing.
Fast Breathing.
Tribandha and Pranayama.
Nadi Shuddhi Pranayama
Anuloma - Viloma (Alternate nostril breathing - I)
Anuloma - Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing - II)
Suryan Bhedan Pranayama (Right Nostril Breathing)
Ujjayi Pranayama.
While there have been many well written books on the subject of pranayama, one of the most important works is, "Light on Pranayama," or "Light on Pranayama : The Yogic Art of Breathing," by master yogi, BKS Iyanger. It is important to understand the overall effects of each technique and these books completely take on the subject.
The orientation of Pranayama in Patanjali Yoga Sutras lays emphasis on breathing (inhalation, exhalation, retention). Patanjali, the father of all yoga, says that pranayama happens when there is a break in the stress-altered pace between inhalation and exhalation.
Most people believe Pranayama comprises three base elements Puraka – inhaling, Kumbhaka – retention, Rechaka – exhaling. There is also a fourth: Sunyaka – the pause before the next inhalation begins, and after an exhalation seizes, is an equally important element while meditating.
We Have Twenty-One Energy Centers - Chakras
There are three columns of seven energy centers - the seven core chakras are well known to most peole who have studied spiritual practices. Those core chakras from root to crown are:
Root chakra. The root chakra, or Muladhara, is located at the base of your spine
Sacral chakra. The sacral chakra, or Svadhisthana, is located just below and slightly to the left of your belly button
Solar plexus chakra
Heart chakra
Throat chakra
Third eye chakra
Crown chakra
The twenty one chakras are connected through the three energy channels in a pattern that resembles the caduceus, which is the traditional symbol of Hermes and features two snakes winding around an often winged staff. Within the physical boundaries of our body there are 72,000 nadis, or prana channels. Those 72,000 nadis spring from three basic spinal nadis – the left, the right and the central – the left (Ida), the right (Pingala), and the center (Sushumna). The word “nadi” does not mean nerve. Nadis are pathways or channels of prana in the energetic body system. We draw energy up from the Earth into nadi pathways in the arches of both feet. The prana flows to a point on the inside of each knee and then into the root chakra. The flow of prana exits the body at the crown chakra flowing back to the Earth.
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