Effect of Pranayam !

The first thing I would like to discuss on my blog is "Effect of Pranayam".

An exceptional function of the body, breathing is regulated automatically by the Autonomic Nervous System, but it is also possible to modify it consciously. Thus this modified breathing can form a bridge between the conscious and unconscious aspects. As per yoga all functions of the body are controlled by the Autonomic Nervous System, this with practice, can become a conscious choice—even the beating of the heart. This practicing control of the breath is the best way to create a bridge.

To walk along this path, it is important to have some understanding of the basic physiological functioning of the breath. This what happens to our body : On inhaling, the contracting diaphragm (the primary respiratory muscle, which is like the skin of a drum separating the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity) descends on the organs below, creating pressure. As a result, the thoracic cavity expands and the abdominal cavity contracts somewhat. Whereas on exhaling, the opposite occurs: the diaphragm relaxes and releases upward as the ribcage relaxes inward, allowing for a counter-intuitive spaciousness in the abdomen. To feel this space in the abdomen can be difficult to feel in an individual with any restriction in natural free breathing, but is easily measurable in infants. During deep prolonged inhalation, a pressure is created in the thoracic cavity that stimulates several effects of the Sympathetic Nervous system (the branch Autonomic Nervous System that creates the "fight or flight response"), the most notable of which are temporary increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Deep prolonged exhalation tends to activate the opposite branch of the Autonomic Nervous System--the Parasympathetic--which again has many effects, including the temporary--but immediate!--drop in both heart-rate and blood pressure.

This can easily be tested: Just sit quietly for some time, and now consciously lengthen your breath, comfortably and allow the inhalation flow directly into the exhalation. On reaching a rhythm of long smooth comfortable breathing, place two fingers to the side of your larynx to feel your pulse. If your breath is unforced and long, you should be able to measure the increase in your pulse as you inhale and the decrease as you exhale.

Yoga, generally refers to a practice of balancing opposites. The aim of pranayam is to balance the inhalation and exhalation, which has a neutralizing effect on the currents of the two branches of the Autonomic Nervous System. Depending on the desired effect, however, modifying the focus toward the inhalation or the exhalation will greatly shift the energetic result of a Yoga practice.

 Though inhalation is often considered to an expansive breath, actually creates pressure around the heart, which shifts the system--at least during the breath cycle—into the Sympathetic system. Deep exhalation will shift it in the opposite direction. Hence, if one has a tendency toward anxiety and is trying to release stress, a breath ratio that emphasizes exhalation will be more helpful. On the other hand, in an individual who has a  tendency towards depression or lethargy, the same breath ratio will reinforce these difficulties.

Simply speaking, brief breath retentions at the end of the cycles of the breath (at the end of the inhalation or exhalation) will tend to reinforce the effect of the preceding breath. Of course, there are more subtle and complex ways of talking about the energetic effects of the four elements of the breathing cycle. Eventually, breath retentions are extremely powerful practices, and it is important to have a personal experience of what you are working with, especially because not everyone present may have the same needs. Modifying conscious breath rhythms outside of an equal ratio (where the inhalation precisely equals the exhalation) or using retentions can have extraordinary effects, and what may be beneficial for one practitioner on a particular day may be harmful in another body or at another time.

To use breath control to create distinct energetic effects it is important to evaluate your energy. If you are particularly fidgety and talkative and seem to have trouble settling into a yoga practice, it is always a good idea to try longer exhalations (or, for particularly a seasoned person, very brief external retentions) right at the beginning of the session. If you follow a Vinyasa-style practice, this can easily be done during the Sun Salutations by simply leaving a bit more time for the movements performed on exhalation or through brief retentions at the end of each exhale, during which you should hold each pose momentarily. In other forms of yoga, you can achieve the same effect by simply sitting or lying in meditation as you practice Ujjayi Pranayama (Victorious Breath). Hence emphasize on the exhalation (and perhaps add a retention at the end of each exhalation), you will notice a visible calming for the rest of the session. The better you know yourself, the better the results for you. This would just lead you resting even if you have the habit to constantly fidget.

Whereas, prolonging the inhalation, will tend to have an energizing effect on you. This is useful up to a point, but if it is overdone it can even overload you with more energy than you exactly know what to do with! A ratio of extended inhalation (possibly adding retentions after each inhalation) will tend to help fight with fatigue, but you will observe, carefully, that your energy level is in fact increasing as you start breathing this way. It will only work up to a point. There is a limit on how "energized" the body can get--though it can change throughout practice!--and it is important not to force the inhalation in a violent fashion. Such forcing creates anxiety and stress instead of the calm energy that is your goal. Ideally, make sure that you are comfortable with complete exhalations before introducing a deeper ratio or retention in the inhalation, as it is through exhalation, regardless of the ratio, that excess is released. Even at a physiological level, the human respiratory system seems to place more emphasis on the removal of carbon dioxide than on the inspiration of oxygen!

Once you've practiced these tools yourself, you'll realize that the breath can be an unique and powerful tool in shaping yourself as any particular asana or sequence. From my personal experience I have come to understand that Pranayam help in curing many diseases caused by viruses. I have seen people getting cured from Tuberculosis (TB), Asthma and common flu etc.