PRANAYAMA: THE POWER OF BREATH

Dr. Asawari J. Upadhye* and Dr. Ramesh Ujwale

ABSTRACT

Pranayama, a branch of yoga practice is extremely beneficial to mankind in maintaining sound physical and mental health. “Prana” means “the vital energy”, “yama” means to gain control over that. So, it is a subtle process through which one can gain control over his inner energies. It is the prana or life force in us that nourishes the mind and keeps the body alive. ‘Prana’ refers to the universal life force and ‘Ayama’ means to regulate or lengthen. Pranayama means working in the dimension of prana.[1] The science of pranayama respiratory is intimately linked with the autonomic nervous system and brings its activities under conscious control through breathing techniques and movements of the diaphragm and lungs. Nasal tissue is erectile and extremely sensitive to airflow. Controlling one’s breathing is an evident first step in controlling one’s autonomic nervous system. It appears to have desirable outcomes for omental adipocytes, the brain, heart, lungs, liver, and other Functions of the kidneys The vagus nerve provides potential to the left nostril, diaphragm, and stomach. Due to increased vagal activity, verbalization of mantras can reduce breathing rate, resulting in longer nitric oxide release when the respiration rate is reduced down to much less than six breaths per minute, according to a clinical study conducted in Italy. It’s possible that breathing manipulations of the left nostril have an effect on pituitary function, the hypothalamus, the pineal gland, and the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Keywords: stress, pranayama, yoga, breath.