Effect of Pranayama

If the various exercises of Pranayama are practiced regularly, the tidal volume is increasing and the respiratory will be longer and finer. Sometimes it comes to natural behaviour of the respiratory system. From a physical point of view it is at such a fine, very slow breathing to a nearly non-turbulent, laminar air flow in the respiratory tract and bronchi, which optimizes the biochemical processes of pulmonary gas exchange. Several medical studies have shown: the regular, slow pranayama breathing leads to positive effects evaluated, such as reduced oxygen demand, lower heart rate and blood pressure, and effects on the skin conductance increased, amplitudes of theta waves in the EEG, increased parasympathetic activity, coupled with a feeling of alertness and energize.

Patanjali has already explained in his Yoga Sutras to that distractions of the mind are connected with troubled breathing and breath control that could bring the mind to concentration. Exhalation, inhalation and breathing pauses are placed in Pranayama in a certain ratio to each other. This leads to a change in the execution of sensitive activities of the mind and can lead to a regular practice, a more profound transformation of consciousness and a heightened sensitivity to subtle life activities.

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.

Asanas

Asanas are mainly carried out as static physical exercises, in example, postures in yoga, hatha yoga. Asana is the third stage of Raja Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga or Kriya Yoga) to Patanjali. The other seven stages of Raja Yoga are Yama, Niyama, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

Important in practice is the conscious way in the right breathing, conscious and deliberate dissolution of the holding asana. Yoga asanas should include in its management are two qualities: stability and well-being. It makes sense, especially for strengthening the muscles intended asanas or which prepare, the more difficult, dynamic run in the respiratory rhythm. Asanas are not just physical suppleness and vitality, but also a good body control. They harmonize body and mind.

Yoga asanas are based on experience and wisdom, which depends much more on it than on the practice to designate the different effects. One of the intended effect is to bring peace of mind flow. This can be done better, if not during practice it is spoken more than necessary. The asanas symbolize a "letting it happen" - the opposite of the usual exercises, which also healthy, mostly, but performance-oriented. In yoga it is basically not about power, desire and achieve success. Remember that Yoga is not a competition. to achieve the perfect external form of an asana is less important than to experience a spiritual quality. For example, to feel, that "I'm in order" and can take balancing burdensome thought by the middle. The student of Yoga should ideally be completely with him, maybe even close your eyes and not compare themselves with others.

Hathapradipika impact

Since the Hathapradipika was translated very early into English, it is after the Yogasutra the most famous classic yoga book, and therefore overestimated in its importance and often - not entirely correctly - called the "masterpiece" of Hatha Yoga.

The Hathapradipika was also well known in India and exerted strong influence on later works of yoga, such as the Gherandasamhita or Shivasamhita. The most famous commentary on the Hathapradipika Jyotsna of Brahmananda, in the second half of the 19th Century was written.

Pranayama

Pranayama is the fourth generation of Raja Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga or Kriya Yoga) to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and is the merging of body and mind through breathing exercises. The other seven stages of Raja Yoga are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

"Prana" is a term for life energy (see also Qi), "Ayama" can "control" or translated as "expand" with. The term "Pranayama" thus refers to the conscious regulation and deepening of mindfulness and breathing through constant practice. Because the breathing is the carrier of life energy, prana can be translated as "breath" - the original use of the term, however, has a larger range of meanings. A continued focus on the processes of breathing and conscious breathing techniques executed can affect the processes of consciousness. Similar effects have been observed in numerous meditation and relaxation techniques.

Hathapradipika

The Hathapradipika, or often Hathayogapradipika, after the Yogasutra of Patanjali, is the well-known classical yoga text. It was written in the 14th century by Svatmarama.

The Hathapradipika - the original name - describes the techniques of Hatha Yoga, the cleaning of the physical and subtle body, and their impact. It is organized according to the edition in four or ten chapters and consists of 643 verses. Although Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga are described, the author emphasizes repeatedly that the Raja Yoga is very important:

No success in Raja Yoga without Hatha Yoga and not without success in Raja Yoga! Therefore, both should be practiced well until the end.

The Hathapradipika is strongly influenced by Gorakshashataka.

Namasté.