Amazing Benefits of Pranayam

As inspired by Swami Ram Dev Ji & Compiled by Col N N Bhatia E mail :- narndra_bhatia@hotmail.com T No 01204332577, Mobile 09818044762

Introduction

Pranayam was there in the ancient Indian Text Books for a long time but the common masses in India did not have access to it for the techniques for practicing them were very complex. There were also wide spread misconceptions that "any deviation from the practiced techniques would cause immense harm to a person". Hence Pranayam should only be practiced in the guidance and vigil of a trained Yog Teacher / Guru & never practiced alone to avoid immensely harmful side effects .

What Is Pranayam..!!.
Pranayam is Controlled Breathing
Pran is the creation of Brahma (God), the supreme being. The inherent quality of Pran is "Motion". This quality of Pran is felt. & experienced in Vayu (Air), which is always in motion. The Human body is composed of five elements:(a) Akash (space of vacuity). (b) Vayu (air). (c ) Agni (fire). (d) Jala (water) & (e) Prithvi (earth). Amongst these five elements, Vayu or Air is said to be the essential element, which keeps the body alive and maintains it. This air, when inspired in the body by the process of breathing is called Pran.

How It Works..!!
Pran or divine energy enters the body through nostrils. Respiration maintains life and is the basis of Pranyam. According to Yog Darshan :When you sit in one of the convenient postures (Asans) & regulate the act of respiration, it is Pranayam. The act of inhaling air in the body so as to reach the lungs, is called inhalation & the act of throwing the air out of the body, is called exhalation. When we inhale, it is not only the air or oxygen that enters our body, but along with the air also enters a divine energy which keeps the body alive.

Doing Pranayam does not mean only taking the air in the body (inhalation) & throwing it out ( exhalation ) but along with oxygen, we also take in our body the Vital Energy. This Vital Energy permeates the entire universe & what we inhale & exhale is just the fragment of it. Manu, the law giver of the Aryans is of the opinion that Pranayam clears the body & mind as the fire cleans dross elements contained in the gold when heated. Physiology teaches us that the oxygen ( Pran ) we breathe fills our lungs, spreads in the entire body (internal & external including neurons, veins & arteries) providing it with essential food, energy, oxygen & gentle massage. Not only that, the veins collect the dross elements from the body, take them to heart & then to the lungs which throw useless materials like carbon-dioxide & other fatal toxins out of the body through exhalation.

A word about Swami Ram Dev Ji

Swami Ram Dev Ji is young, energetic, Vedic Scholar of repute with scientific, analytical & modern outlook extremely proud of Indias cultural & spiritual heritage. He has done a tremendous service to mankind by breaking false myths about the harm caused by Pranayam. He has revolutionised the simplified Pranayam techniques that can be easily practiced by masses & brought them to common mans bed room thru TV highlighting its amazing benefits in alleviating stress, common & chronic diseases for which modern medical sciences have no treatment that can be practiced alone without any side effects. Swami Ramdev had recently conducted Yoga camps in UK where his works on Pranayaam & Ayurveda were highly appreciated that even Queen invited him for audience.

Thus, Swami ji has exhumed the ancient Indian science of Pranayam from the grave of darkness , fear & monopoly of few & presented it in its simplest form for the welfare of the mankind that can be done by all irrespective of different religious faiths ,castes, colours or creeds.

In 1999 all heads of the member states of the UNO pledged to eradicate poverty, illiteracy & disease from their respective countries but till end 2006 nothing has been done & most of them are reeling under poverty, diseases, illiteracy & terrorism.

The Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev was invited by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to address the UN General Assembly on 15 October 2006, as part of the world body's anti-poverty drive ( Stand Up against Poverty Campaign).

The Seven Pranayams

The Pranayam taught by Swami Ram Dev Ji consists of the following seven breathing exercises in sequence:1. Bhastrika Pranayam. 2. Kapal Bhati Pranayam. 3. Bahaya Pranayam. 4. Anulom Vilom Pranayam. 5. Bhramri Pranayam. 6. Udgeeth Pranayam. 7. Pranav (Meditation ) or concentration on breathing. In addition, Swami Ji also advises Agnisaar after Kapal Bhati Pranayam to all particularly those who are incapable of performing Bahaya Pranayam because of several reasons including poor health.

Methodology of Doing Pranayam

Sit in convenient posture (asana) with eyes closed in Dhyan mudra or meditative pose.

Bhasrika Pranayam ( 5 mins ) air in the lungs.

Rhythmically deeply breathe in & breathe out

Kapal Bhati ( 15 mins ) Kapal means forehead and Bhati means light. Hence, Kapal-Bhati is Pranayam that makes the forehead luminous and lustrous. It is akin to tummy tuck as simulated by coughing. Except rhythmic contraction of stomach once in one second ( 60 times in a min ) one should keeping rest of the body still. Bahaya Pranayam ( 3 - 5 times ) Take a deep breath, completely exhale it out, press chin closer to chest (Jallandhar Bandh) , push stomach inwards( Udyyan Bandh) & pull your lower torso upwards ( Mool Bandh). Hold the breath as long as you can (10-15 seconds each time). Anulom Vilom Pranayam( 15 mins ) It involves alternate breathing from left & right nostrils. To start this Pranayam, close your right nostril with right hand thumb & breathe deeply but gently thru left nostril. Now close left nostril by two centre fingers of the right hand & breathe out completely from right nostril. Repeatedly & rhythmically breathe alternatively. In 1 minute one can breathe in & out 12-14 times.

Bhramri Pranayam Plug in your ears with both the thumbs while
closing your both the eyes gently with three lower fingers & forehead with the fourth finger. Take deep breath & hum holy OM inside your mouth loudly with closed mouth. Repeat the process 5 to 7 times.

Udgeeth Pranayam Sit in convenient posture ,eyes closed with

both hands on knees in Dhyan Mudra. Take deep breath & loudly chant holy OM. Repeat the process 5 to 7 times.

Concentration on Breathing ( Meditation) Just sit quietly in

Dhyan Mudra with eyes closed for 3-4 minutes ensuring no thoughts come in the mind while concentrating on breathing. Through Pranayam & Meditation we attain transcendental state of consciousness where mind has no thoughts or impressions. In that state , our neuro-enodrine system becomes limbic-hypothalamus, pituitary & adrenal axis becomes strong & precise. As a result our stress hormones- ACTH, cortisol , prolactin , adrenaline & nor adrenaline go down while good hormones like beta endorphines.

Bhasrika Pranayam

Kapal Bhati Pranayam

Bahaya Pranayam

Anulom Vilom Pranayam

Bhramri Pranayam

Udgeeth Pranayam

A word about worlds deadliest disease Cancer & how Pranayam helps its cure

When someone has cancer, oxygen levels in the body are very low. The body's alkalinity is also very low. When there's low oxygen & alkalinity, the body's cells become abnormal. The cells of the body communicate with each other passing along vital information. Oxygen feeds the cells and allows for proper communication. But when there's lack of oxygen, a great lack of oxygen, this communication becomes thwarted & cells start acting abnormally. That is why many health specialists & experts say cancer is "abnormal cells" or "abnormal cell activity." This is true ! Many doctors erroneously say cancer is a proliferation of dead cells which is not true. If cells were dead there would be no action. Cancer does denote abnormal cell activity due to lack of oxygen & low alkaline level which means excessive acid level or acidosis. By doing Pranayam oxygen & alkaline level is remarkably increased in the blood & excessive acidity eliminated curing cancer permanently with no side effects.

Benefits of Pranayam

Our neuro-enodrine system becomes limbic-hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal axis becomes strong & precise. As a result our stress hormones ACTH , cortisol & prolactin & adrenaline & noradrenaline go down & good hormones like beta endorphines & encephalin, etc go up. As a result stress-related diseases like hypertension, asthma , anger, obesity heart diseases etc start reversing.

Diseases like diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, leucoderma, depression, Parkinson, muscular dystrophy, infertility, insomnia, migraine, thyroid, arthritis, cervical spondalities, hepatitis, chronic renal failure, cancer, cirrhosis, gas, constipation, acidity etc are cured effectively.

Spiritually speaking, with the support of respiration that the mind peers into the inner world & enables the Sadhak (Practitioner) to experience divinity. It is with this objective that saints & sages of ancient times formulated different methods of Pranayam. The spiritual benefits derived from practice of Pranayam in acquiring proficiency is that Chitta (Mind) becomes free from ignorance & covered by radiant light of knowledge of ultimate reality.

Some Observations

Pranayam should be done early in the morning & evening in open space where air is pure & no noise & air pollution.

Pranayam should be done after 4-5 hrs gap after a meal.

Expecting mothers & those undergone any major surgery should not do Kapal Bhati for the next 4 -6 months. In the morning drink two glasses of luke warm water, brush teeth & after abolition do Pranayam. Luke warm water helps in clear bowl eliminating acidity & constipation.

Spondolitis, hernia, low backache cases & expecting mothers should not bend forward.

 Do simple exercises like stretching of hands, legs, butterfly, static jogging , running, bending etc as per your capabilities for relaxation & physical fitness. Dont tire yourself. Do Pranayam in stretches of 2- 5 mins . Eat simple vegetarian fat & spice less food, milk, green vegetables & fruits for maintenance of good health. Avoid smoking, alcohol, drugs, stress & non veg food.

In chronic diseases, Ayurvedic medicines may be taken after consultations with Ayurvedic doctors only.

 Benefits from Pranayam will depend upon ones age, life style, severity of ailment, devotion, dedication, faith & duration of doing Pranayam. Finally, lying thought & motionless less with eyes closed in Shav asan ( corpse posture ) for 5 to 10 mins is most relaxing & stress reliving. While doing Pranayam keep both eyes closed & mentally chant OM for assimilation of divine energy.

Swami Ram Dev in the service of mankind, daily teaches benefits of Pranayam on Indian & international TV channels to permanently cure people suffering from incurable diseases thru Pranayam without any medicine or expenditure.

Post Script

Pranayam is an aspect of Yoga, that deals with deep breathing. Pranayam is a method of controlling prana or life force through the regulated breathing. It is the breathing process or the control of the motion of inhalation, exhalation & the retention of vital energy. Pranayam is cost free meditative exercises to cure chronic diseases & reliving stress. While you benefit from this ancient Indian science, you as a responsible human being must impart this knowledge to at least 10 people to alleviate disease , ignorance, poverty & stress in the service of mankind.