Pranayama Tips

Tips on  Pranayama

Pranayama is nothing but the control of Breath.  Prana means breath or the vital energy in our body.  Prana represents the energy responsible for the life and "Ayama" means control.  So Pranayama means control of breath.   You can control the breath with pranayama and achieve healthy body and mind,.

Pranayamam  frees your mind from untruthfulness, ignorance and other painful experiences of the body and mind.  Pranayamam is the systematic exercise of respiration which gives strength to lungs and improves the blood circulation and gives a long life to us.    Several diseases can be cured by prcticing pranayama.  Pranayamam improves functioning of brain cells thereby improving memory and gives lot of concentration to  a person,.  Here are some tips or rules which must be kept in mind while practicing pranayamam.

• Select a clean, airy and peaceful place for pranayamam.
• You can sit either in any of the asanas like padmasana or vajrasana which ever is convenient to you.
• Breath only through nose only.   Never breath through mouth.  The air that we breath through nose gets filtered.  Nasal respiration keeps the temperature of the nadis - Ida, Pindala and Susumna.  It also prevents any foreign objects to enter lungs.
• Keep your mind calm and be with peaceful mind.
• You should perform pranayamam 4 to 5 hours after taking food.  In the morning, pranayamam should be performed after completing daily routines like cleaning mouth, emptying bowels etc.   It should be done before performing yogasanas.
• If you feel tired during pranayamam, take rest and take a deep breath.
• Pregnant woman, hungry persons or those suffering from fever should not perform pranayamam.
• It would be beneficial if you chant mantras.
• You should not get strained while doing 'Kumbhaka' i.e. retaining the breathed air inside or keeping air out after exhaling.