The benefits of Pranayama

THE BENEFITS OF PRANAYAMA

Pranayama is the name given to breathing exercises used in many yoga styles.  Controlled breathing exercises which are used to quiet the mind.

Many styles of yoga believe that it is first necessary to begin to become used and familiar with awareness of the breath.  The first way to do that is to practice asanas (physical postures).  This way, the practitioner begins to gain control over the use of their own breath as a tool for concentration.

It may seem rather strange at the beginning to learn how to use your breath.  Do we not use it every day just to stay alive?  Well yes, this is true but actual conscious awareness is far different to everyday breathing.

Learning to gain control of your own breath will definitely lead to gaining control of your own life and more importantly, your mind.

A good teacher is needed when we begin to learn pranayama.  This is a very powerful tool and a good teacher is necessary to learn properly.  Becoming comfortable sitting for an extended period of time is one of the first lessons taught in pranayama.  It is essential that the hips, knees and spine grow in strength and alignment for this to happen.  All possible, just takes practice.

Actual pranayama (controlled breathing exercises) vary in length and difficulty.  Learning to concentrate on breathing in and out with conscious awareness is the first step.  Take a stop watch, most phones in this modern world have a stop watch or timer.  Find a comfortable place to sit and begin to grow and lengthen your breath.  Notice what emotions and physical sensations you are experiencing.  Agitation often is one of the first things to settle upon the beginning yogi.  That's ok, witness it and let it go, it will pass"¦.

Taking 3 minutes to time your inhalations is a great way to begin awareness of breathing techniques.  Start the stop watch and count how many breaths you take in before it rings.  Many people often loose count and start thinking about things before the 3 minutes are up and loose track of their counting.

This may take many times and constant practice to stay focused during this 3 minute period.  Once you have mastered this you are on your way to conscious pranayama exercises.

After this point the variation and duration of the pranayama exercises depend on the frequency and potency with which you practice.  Your teacher will guide you.

The benefits of pranayama are great and varied also.  Learning to gain control and sustain concentration on one thing or a single point of focus (your breath and its sound) is an invaluable tool.  This concentrating on one single point will force the mind to be calm and still.  It is not possible to think about any more than that once you are breathing with conscious awareness.  This single point of focus will provide the practitioner with a sense of calm and personal awareness.

Many people that practice pranayama regularly report that they feel light and blissful after they finish.  These feelings of bliss will last longer and longer after the practice if pranayama is practiced regularly every day.  Bliss and joyful feelings.

Calming your mind on a regular basis is a good way of releasing inner worries and toxic energy that can take over if not addressed regularly.  Pranayama is also a very good way to make space and create light around the heart.  Moving energy in and around the heart will keep it open and more joy and positive actions will arise.

Pranayama is a practice that is tricky to begin with but a joy to continue with after you have passed the initial period.  Sitting will become something to smile at and breathing will turn into a whole new experience.  Something to be shared and loved.  If you want to breathe some light into your life pranayama is a wonderful and very proactive way to begin.

Good luck and happy breathing"¦.