What is Pranayama

The Pranayama practice usually replaces the usual and unconscious breathing pattern. There are several techniques, each of which is to work with different muscle groups, especially with the diaphragm, and with chest, abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. In this way, the respiratory movements are controlled. The first result of the increasing practice, first, the sensitivity to the inner workings of breathing - and unconscious, habitual breathing patterns can be conscious. In the human organism is a close relationship between cognitive and physiological processes. Emotional states can be detected at physiological muscle tone, as are direct links between physical and psychological changes and changes observed in breathing. So scared for example, leads to a flatter and faster breathing, or shock to the sudden involuntary inhalation and breath holding. In most cases, are therefore associated with certain unconscious breathing patterns as unconscious emotional patterns of the psyche - they can lose through an improved awareness of the breathing their compulsive character. In this way, ingrained habit patterns of the organism be made available to smooth the conscious change. The breathing practice can thus be considered as a link between processes of the body and mental processes. In yoga, therefore, the practice of Pranayama has traditionally been very important. Pranayama can be called one of the oldest forms of respiratory therapy, the origins go back to the Upanishads.