Pranayama and Meditation
‘The way we breathe reflects our state of mind. By controlling the breath we can learn to change the state of mind, and emotions. This is good preparation for meditation. (Ref PYS 2:53 HYP C2:2) . There are many different pranayama practices, first noticing the breath, counting, controlling, retention, all of these practices build to allowing our minds to settle into meditation.
Purpose of Pranayama
As physical exercises.
Breathing fully and with awareness ensures that there is a good supply of oxygen to each cell of the body. Respiration is more efficient, circulation increases and nervous system strengthened. As we learn to inhale and exhale fully, we also improve the functionality of bodies getting rid of gaseous toxins. There is strong evidence that brainwave patterns change.
It was observed by the ancient yogis that those animals with rapid breathing had short lives, whilst those with slow breathing gained longevity. This has been backed up in recent years through investigation into the cell’s mitrchondrial, slowing the respiration can slow the aging process. This goes hand in hand with diet, exercise, emotional health, and stress.
Furthermore lung capacity is increased over time, our muscles of our respiration system become more flexible and stronger, which is very liberating, giving a feeling of lightness and space within the body after practice.
To follow another person’s breath pattern, breathing in unison brings people closer together, mother and baby, couples, also in partnering in yoga classes, and with friends, ‘barriers’ are broken down after practice people smile and laugh with one another.
As a mental exercise
‘The way we breathe reflects our state of mind. By controlling the breath we can learn to change the state of mind, and emotions. This is good preparation for meditation. (Ref PYS 2:53 HYP C2:2) ‘move the body, move the mind’, and so it is with the breath, placing our focus on our breath allows our minds to become quiet, we can only think of our breath, our mind can not wander, whilst counting, exhaling, inhaling, holding the breath, and still maintain the count. With this ‘vacation for our minds’ from the never endless ‘chatter’, we become through time and practice more adapt at dealing with what life throws our way. I have also become aware of how my breath is when I am under stress, instead of dealing with the ‘issue’ directly, I have learnt to concentrate on my breath, then change the breathing pattern. Once the new breath pattern has been adopted the ‘issue’ has very often passed.
Steady practice is the key, forcing the breath, does lead to stress, the muscles tighten, and the air is grasped. If ‘done properly then the body is eradicated of all disease, if improper practice all diseases can arise’, HYP 2 15 – 16
‘The attainment of pranayama removes mental darkness, and ignorance, which veils the inner light of the soul, … and the mind attains the power of concentration’, Yoga Sutras 2 52 – 3
As a purifier of the mind, body and nadis
Pranayamas form part of the shatkarmas, body cleansing practices. They cleanse the body at many different levels enabling the free flow of prana, good physical, mental and emotional health results. Personally I have not had a ‘cold’ for years.
HYP 2 vs 6 ‘Pranayama should be done daily with a sattwic state of mind, so that impurities are driven out of sushumna nadi and purification occurs.
The nadis become clear, energy flows through body easier. Swami Niranjanananda defines the purpose of pranayama as a sadhana as distinct from general practice ‘to evolve the psychic and casual bodies’
As a means to raise Kundalini Shakti
In addition to having a healthy body, human evolution depends on the awakening of prana shakti. This takes place when the nadis flow, continuously, and regularly.
By purifying the nadis, then the energy of Kundalini is free to move up the body, from the resting place of Moolahara, to Sahasrara.
To attain a ‘higher spiritual goal’ is very often a driving force for people who practice yoga. Pranayama practices form the key to raising kundalini shakti, by purifying the chakras and nadis.
Prana can then be directed at will, within our own bodies, but also to ‘manifest power from which all energies originate’. Ref: Prana and Pranayama p 47. The adept yogi can become impervious to heat and cold, or any other sensations. With this heighten ability, to control and direct prana, higher meditative states may be established.
Gerhanda samhita C5; 57
‘By pranayama is attained the power of levitation, by pranayama diseases are cured, by pranayama the shakti is awakened, by pranayama is obtained the calmness of mind and exaltation of mental powers, by this, mind becomes full of bliss; verily the practitioner of pranayama is happy’.
Bhastrika is often used to ‘pump’ the energy up through the spine, the force of the bellows breath actually forcing prana up through sushumna.
As a bridge between the conscious and the unconscious
‘Inhale, and God approaches you, hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God, hold the exhalation, and surrender to God.’ Krishnamacharya.
We come into the world with a cry, a big inhale, we go out with a sigh, we exhale, and hold the exhalation. We surrender to God. A part of the practice of yoga is to prevent us from ‘clinging’ to objects, to people, adverse to change, and clinging to life, we, in the practice of yoga prepare for death, corpse pose, at the end of practice.
When an old person is dying, very often the ‘death rattle’ is heard, the erratic breath, clinging to life, before finally the deep exhale, and surrender to God.
Through pranayama practice, the body, mind and spirit become integrated, being able to move the body whilst moving with the breath, calming the mind with the breath, and so ‘lifting the veil over the inner light’, our spirits shine.
As a means to lengthen our lifespan
Slow breathing, slow moving animals live a long time, (turtles), small fast moving, fast breathing animals (mice) live short lives.
Yogis thought that we were only allowed a certain amount of breaths, therefore slow the breath down, and we are here, for a longer time.
The span of 100 years for human beings, depends on their strength of their sense organs. A person takes in 21,600 breaths per day on average. If we moderate our living, and elongate our breaths, we can reduce our daily breaths and elongate our lives.
With the aspect of slow breathing also producing more anti-oxidants, our ageing process will be a pleasanter one, therefore through the practice of pranayama we are able to lead longer, healthier, and productive lives.
There are many different breathing practices to explore, some you will like, some you will find challenging, all have quite profound effects, why not come along and experience prior to meditation.
If you are interested please contact Susan@naturallytwisted.co.uk or just turn up to her regular Ashtanga Yoga Class, every Friday 6 – 7.30 pm.
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