According to B.K.S. Iyengar, “Pranayama is a conscious prolongation of inhalation, retention and exhalation.” However, this may be a bit simplistic.
According to B.K.S. Iyengar, “Pranayama is a conscious prolongation of inhalation, retention and exhalation.” However, this may be a bit simplistic. Prana actually refers not only to the breath, but also to the life-force or energy, in a larger more spiritual way, while ayama means control.
By trying to control their breath, it is thought that yogis can access this prana, or energy of the universe, andshift the mood and energy in their body to get noticeable results.
According to B.K.S. Iyengar, “Pranayama is a conscious prolongation of inhalation, retention and exhalation.” However, this may be a bit simplistic. Prana actually refers not only to the breath, but also to the life-force or energy, in a largermore spiritual way, while ayama means control. By trying to control their breath, it is thought that yogis can access this prana, or energy of the universe, and shift the mood and energy in their body to get noticeable results.
Another reason behind it is that stress, pain and emotion changes our breathing, so a practitioner can use breathing exercises during times of difficulty to restore the sympathetic nervous system (the one charged with the flight/fight response), and activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the one which calms us down after a stressful encounter).
To try pranayama, check out the sequences on the World of Yoga YouTube channel.
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