yoga relaxationBy Gopi Rao

Let’s learn to reach complete relaxation with pranayama for life.  There are various objectives of Yogic breathing, which we know as Pranayama. Some people practice pranayama to heal, for happiness, to connect the mind and body, or for the power of great health that results. Pranyama is the unsung hero of Yoga. Very underrated in comparison to asana, pranayam humbily develops mind, body, and spirit.

My Guru, Paulji, states: “If you think you don’t have time to relax, you need to relax right now.” It’s so true that we try to avoid everything good by making excuses about the time. If we are stressed, we think we don’t have enough time for anything. Below are some ideas for complete Yoga relaxation with pranayama.

Complete relaxation can be an established daily practice of 10 to 30 minutes. The devotion to this amazing Yoga practice makes one clear headed focused, sharp, energised relaxed happy, and satisfied with everything that life has to offer.

On the positive side, the usages of dynamic pranayam like Kapalabhati and Bhastrika gives one the feeling of absolute bliss. Even the silent pranayamas for a few minutes give a seasoned practitioner instant relief. One who has followed and been taught by Gurus in an Ashram on a daily basis has learned to master pranayama for spontaneous relaxation.

Only a minority of adults in this world breathe with full efficiency and for maximum healthful effect. Young children, unlike adults breathe more effectively but once they are subjected to social pressures and tensions they develop the faulty respiratory habits of their parents, principally shallow high chest breathing.

If great numbers of people have lost the technique of using respiratory muscles and lungs with adequate elasticity, the result can only be destructive to health. The bloodstream is not being fully purified and oxygenated, nor is food being adequately burned the body to provide energy, it also goes a long way to explaining the prevalence of fatigue, headaches and neurasthenia in civilised life.

The Yogic technique of breathing deeply, for great numbers of people has to be relearned, and shallow upper-chest inhalation replaced by diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing of the kind visible in sleeping infants.

Adults need to practice alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) or victorious breath (Ujjayi) daily. The daily sessions of Yoga breathing increase vital capacity, energise the mind, exercise the lungs and the respiratory muscles, oxygenates and purifies the blood stream, removes phlegm, cleanse the sinuses and the nadis, soothe and tones the chest, improve digestion, massage the abdominal viscera, and calms the mind.

In addition, the regular programme of pranayama brings states of pure relaxation and bliss. The Yogi or Yogini experiences success in establishing healthful breathing habits. Pranayama brings courage calmness, and serenity to the mind. Meditation is mastered easily and concentration on the breath, brings about tranquility within the mind to reach higher stages of consciousness.

Aum Shanti!

© Copyright 2011 – Gopi Rao / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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