22 March 2016
The Seven Pranayama
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About Swami Ramdev And the 7 Yoga Breathing techniques.Swami Ramdev or Baba Ramdev is an Indian Yoga Guru who has been instrumental in popularizing the current yoga craze in India. Through his daily broadcasts on television channels starting about 12 -13 years back, he brought the long kept under wraps mysterious yoga techniques straight into the homes of the masses. Before him Yoga had always been kept shrouded in wraps and mystery.
He explained that yoga can be done by anyone and everyone to better health, cure disease and remain healthy. There was nothing mysterious about yoga and it didn't require huge effort or learning to do the basic yoga pranayama or yoga breathing exercises. Baba Ramdev outlined a set of 7 Pranayama (yoga breathing techniques) which he said were sufficient to keep a person disease free provided they are done regularly and diligently. These 7 yoga breathing techniques or exercises are explained below. They are best done in the early morning though one can do them in the evening also. If done after a large meal there ought to be a gap of 5 hours after the meal. 1. Bhastrika PranayamaBreathe in deeply through the nose and fill the lungs with air. Ensure that you do not fill the stomach with air (If the chest rises while inhaling this is ensured). Breathe in a smooth easy flow without straining. All the while feel that the Divine energy is entering your body.
Then breathe out and feel that all the poisons and toxins are being expelled with this breath. Repeat this procedure non stop for 2 minutes to start with and slowly extend the duration to 5 minutes at a stretch over some weeks. Initially, due to the large inflow of oxygen to the brain, you might feel a bit heavy in the head. If so, rest for a while before restarting. In due course you will not experience this. Benefits All skin problems are cured by Bhastrika including leucoderma and discoloration of the skin due to burns. 2. Kapalbhati PranayamaThis breathing routine starts with an exhalation or breathing out the air in the lungs.
Breathe out the air with moderate force and while doing this the stomach should go in. This is most important.Then breathe in. It's like the stomach going in when we cough. The exhalation or breathing out is forceful but the inhalation or breathing in is natural and is automatic. Do this breathing in and out for a period of 5 minutes at one time for a total of 15 minutes. Benefits It cures diabetes as it stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. It makes the kidneys, heart, lungs, stomach strong and faultless. It oens the blocked arteries if done over a long period, strengthens the abdominal and back muscles, increase bone density and strength and purifies the blood. 3. Bahya PranayamaTake a deep breath and then as you breathe out let the stomach go in. When you have breathed out completely, hold the breath.
Bend the head downwards over the chest till the chin touches the upper portion of the chest where the neck and chest join. Hold this position for 15 seconds then raise the head back slowly as you breathe in. Repeat from 7 to 11 times. Benefits Helps in relieving all stomach disorders like constipation, acidity, urinary, prostrate problems, 4. Agnisaar PranayamaTake a deep breath and then exhale. As you exhale pull in the stomach gradually till you have breathe out all the air and the stomach has gone as far in as it could.
Now hold the breath out while you move the stomach in and out in an even rhythm at a moderate speed for 15 to 20 seconds. Breathe in again and repeat. Do this from 3 to 5 times. Benefits It cures all stomach problems including digestion problems and constipation. 5. Anulom Vilom PranayamaSit straight. Exhale. Now close the right nostril with the right thumb . The palm and fingers are stretched up and out towards the sky.
Breathe in through the left nostril deeply. Close the left nostril with the middle finger of the same hand while simultaneously releasing the thumb on the right nostril and breathe out through the right nostril. Breathe in through the right nostril now while the left is still closed with the middle finger. Now close the right nostril and breathe out through the left nostril. This completes one breathing cycle. Do this procedure without a break for 5 minutes at a stretch. Total 15 minutes, 5 minutes at a time. Rest briefly in between. NOTE The 1st breath is taken in through the left nostril always. subsequent breathing out and in is done through the same nostril alternatively. While finishing the routine the breath has to be exhaled out of the left nostril. If you cannot do it for 5 minutes initially do it for as long as comfortable. Increase duration slowly. Benefits Recharges the whole body, activates the chakras and corrects the disturbed energy flow in the body. 6. Bhramri PranayamaClose the outer ears with the thumbs and place the first finger over the eyebrow, the second and middle finger over the eyes. close the mouth.
Breathe in deeply and then exhale through the nose by making a humming sound in the throat, like a bee. Feel this sound reverberating in the head and body. Repeat from 7 to 11 times. Benefits Relieves stress, relaxes the mind and body, activates all the glands in the head. 7. Udgeeth PranayamaTake a deep breath. Exhale through the mouth by saying OM - with an extended O and then an extended M sound. The duration for the extended O must be thrice that of M. Do this 7 to 11 times.
Benefits It cures insomnia, depression, improves concentration and other mind related problems. A Few Important Points To Remember
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