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Y oga - Pranayama

Benefits of Pranayama

1.	Lungs and entire respiratory system are cleansed and strengthened.
2.	As exhalation is twice the time of inhalation staler air and waste products are expelled from the lungs.
3.	During retention the rate of gaseous exchange in lungs is greatly increased as a result of increase in pressure. This means that more oxygen from the lungs goes into the blood stream and more carbon-di-oxide from the blood are passed into the lungs for elimination during exhalation.
4.	Alternative Nostril breathing help to balance the hemisphere of the brain. This exercise helps to calm the mind, making lucid acid and steady, preparing it for meditation.
5.	Anuloma Viloma purifies the nadis.
6.	It makes the body light and eyes shiny.
7.	Improved control on anger is also achieved.

Some rules for Pranayam

Select a clean and peaceful place for doing Pranayama. If possible, choose a place near a clean pond or river.

As there is a lot of pollution in the cities, some kind of incense can be lit like Guggulu and purified butter, to create a clean environment at that place, igniting a lamp with purified butter only, can also serve the purpose.

Sit either in any of the Asanas, viz. Padmasana, Sidhasana or Vajrasana, which ever you find convenient. The sheet or cloth (cotton or wool etc.) on which you sit must be a non-conductor of electricity.

Breathe only through the nose, because by doing so the air, which you take in, is filtered. During daytime when you are not sitting for the performance of Pranayama make it a habit to do respire only through nose and not through mouth. Nasal respiration keeps the temperature of the Nadis (Vessels) –'Ida',Pingala and 'susmana' even. It also prevents foreign and harmful objects from getting into lungs.

Like ‘Yog’, Pranayama should also be performed four or five hours after taking food. In the morning Pranayama should be done after finishing daily routine acts like cleansing mouth, emptying of bowels etc., it should also be done before Yogsana. In the beginning Pranayama should be done for five or ten minutes gradually the time may be increased up to about 1/2 or 1 hour. Maintain a specific number of repetitions and do not variate. Maintain a specific rhythm. If it is not possible to clean the bowels by morning, at night take some mild laxative like terminalia chebula (Indian Hardaya) or any other mild laxative (a non habit forming medicinal herb having a laxative effect). Kapala-bhati Pranayama, if done regularly for a few days will help in curing constipation.

Keep your mind calm and composed. However, Pranayama can also calm down the disturbed mind and keep one happy.

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