The Hatha Yoga Pradeepika, an ancient text describes Yoga as well comments about pranayam which goes :
Ayuktabhyasa Yogena
Sarvaroga Samudbhava
Pranayam has the capability of curing all diseases if practiced properly.
"Prana" is a sanskrit word for life force ie. "Pran Vayu". Practice of pranayam enhances life force in people cleaning all the negativity blockages of mind, heart and soul. Gita opines when pranayam done in conjunction with yogic exercises gives amazing result on human body. No disease could ever occur if one is regularly practicing pranayam. Pranayam takes one to the inner journey when properly done with the concentration on breadth. Names could differ, breathing procedure could differ, timings could differ but one thing which is common is the sitting posture. There are 3 recommended postures for one to sit in and to do pranayam. These are – Sukh Aasan, Siddh Aasan, or Padmasan.
Rechak (enhale) Purak (exhale) & Kumbhak (holding the breath) are the three breathing techniques or one can say they are the base to do different pranayams.
Some common pranayams are –
- Bhashrika (Deep Breathing)
- Kapaalbhati (This pranayam exerts preassure on all the organs of the abdominal cavity which is very effective in treating all the diseases.)
- Naadi Shodhan (Anulom Vilom – it’s a combination of rechak & purak)
- Bahya Pranayam (Breath out and concentrate on 3 bandhas - mula, Uddiyan & Jalandhar simultaneously keeping breath out)
- Bhramari Pranayam (Breath in till your lungs are full of air)
- Ujjaye Pranayam (Contraction of muscles of your throat is the basic do)
& many more..
