Pranayama....

Oxygen is the most essential nutrient to our body. It is necessary for the integrity of the brain, nerves, glands and internal organs. We can stay without food for weeks and without water for days, but not without oxygen.

Pranayama is translated as prana (life) or the science of breath control.

This is one among the Five Principles of Yoga.

The most vital function of our body is “Breathing”. Breathing exercise promotes proper breathing meaning more oxygen to the blood and to the brain to control Prana or the vital life energy.

Five major types of Pranayama

• Nadi Sodhana
• Shitali Pranayama
• Ujjayi Pranayama
• Kapalabhati Pranayama
• Digra Pranayama

Nadi Sodhana:

Following steps instruct to perform the nadi sodhana pranayama:

• Sit down in a cross legged position. Spread the fingers of the right hand, and fold only the pointing finger and the middle finger.
• Now use your right hand thumb to close the right side of your nose. Inhale deeply using the left nostril
• Now close the left nostril with the right hand ring finger and exhale using the right one
• In the same way, now with the left nostril still closed, inhale using the right nostril and exhale with the left one

Repeat this breathing exercise for around 10 - 15 times.

Shitali Pranayama:

Sit down in cross legged position. Keep the right palm facing upward upon the left palm in front of your navel and take five to six deep breaths to get yourself prepared.

Now start inhaling through the mouth. Then exhale through your nose.

This can be repeated five to ten times.

Ujjayi Pranayama

Ujjayi meaning “the ocean” and this pranayama is about imitating the sound of the waves.

Sit down in cross legged position. Now start to inhale and exhale deeply using your mouth.

When you exhale and inhale the air you will get the feeling of choke (constricting your throat). This will produce a sound similar to the ocean when you breathe.

Now close your mouth and start to inhale and exhale using the nose, but maintain the same tone to your throat so you still continue to make the same sound as your breath.

Repeat this breathing exercise for about ten to fifteen times.

Kapalabhati Pranayama:

Sit in a comfortable position crossing your legs. Perform two to three deep inhalation and exhalation.

Now inhale deeply and exhale forcefully by pausing for a fraction of second and drawing all the air out. There should be belly movement as you exhale.

When you inhale, let it happen passively without you making any effort to inhale as the belly goes back to normal position.

Dirga Pranayama - Three Part Breathing

This technique involves very deep inhalation and exhalation.
To perform this, lie down on your back and close your eyes. Breathe normally relaxing your body.

First step: Inhale a lot of air in slowly to fill your belly up. Your belly should rise up like a balloon. Hold this position for a few seconds and exhale drawing the belly inwards ensure there is no air left.

Second step: Inhale deeply to fill up the belly. Inhale a bit more to fill up air in your rib cage. Exhale starting from your rib cage and then from your belly.

Third step: Inhale deeply to fill up your belly and rib cage with air. Inhale a bit more to fill up your heart center (area around the heart) with air. Exhale starting from your the heart center then the rib cage and then from your belly.

Repeat the whole process for five to six times