Most Significant Health Benefits of Pranayama With its Types
High blood pressure, lung problems, or brain disorders, Pranayama is the simplest answer to such health issues. This post highlights the different types & benefits of Pranayama. Pranayama is more than just a yoga asana. It is an effective way to bridge the gap between your body and mind. Besides this, Pranayama promotes relaxation, happiness, and mindfulness. Let’s dive into the holistic approach that turns cosmic creative potential into reality.
What is Pranayam?
The term Pranayama is divided into two terms: ‘Pran’ and ‘Anayam’ where Pran means Breath and Anayam mean to Control or Regulate, when combined together it makes the control of breath. It is a practice of Yoga that involves the balancing of breathing through different techniques. The main purpose of practicing pranayama is to relax the mind and body through inhaling, exhaling, and retailing the breath.
Yoga has been practiced since ancient times, even science also believes in Yoga. Yoga is rich in various health benefits, from physical, mental, emotional to spiritual, Yoga is completely a life-changing experience.
With so many types and benefits of Yoga, Pranayama stands out for dealing with breathing. There is no surprise if we tell you that most people don’t even know how many breaths they take in one minute. There are different types of pranayama that come with various benefits. From training your lungs to improving the capacity of the respiratory system and working with your nervous system, Pranayam essentially controls and improves various functions of our body like heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, etc.
It is beneficial for the reader to know the actual benefits of pranayama. But before knowing the benefits, first, know how many types of pranayama are there.
Different Types of Pranayama:
There are various types of pranayama from which we are mentioning a few. Every type of pranayam has its own benefits. Whether you’re looking for benefits of pranayam for the brain or skin, go through the below guide to know which will better fit you.
Bhastrika Pranayam
In this type of pranayama, deep breaths are taken and released between the duration of 2-5 minutes.
Bahya Pranayam
In Bahya Pranayam, you first breathe out, then touch your chest with the chin, hold for a while and release the chin leisurely.
KapalBhati Pranayam
The air is breathed in and breathed out forcefully, making the stomach go in and out. This procedure is done in 1-5 minutes for at least 20 minutes.
Anulom Vilom Pranayam
This type of pranayama is done by holding the right and left nasal respectively one after another and breathing is done through the nostril. This type introduces several benefits of pranayama.
Moorchha Pranayama
It is the most difficult type of pranayama that involves continuous exhaling without inhaling.
Sheetali Pranayama
In this, you begin with inhaling with your mouth, keep your tongue rolled, and hold your breath for a while. After some time exhale the breath from your nostril.
Dirga Pranayama
One of the unique types of pranayama is performed by lying down instead of sitting. It has three steps, you start with inhaling lots of air in your stomach for the first time, in your rib cage for the second and third time imagining filling your stomach, rib cage, and heart, and drawing slowly three of the times. Repeat the process 5-6 times.
Bhramari Pranayama
This type of Pranayama says to close your ears with your thumbs and put your index finger on your forehead and use three fingers to breathe in and breathe out from your nose one by one.
Udgeeth Pranayama
Breath in deeply while chanting OM. This type of Pranayam helps your mind with peace and relaxation.
Ujjayi Pranayama
While seated with cross legs, you inhale and exhale and try and constrict your throat just like someone choking you.
Palawani Pranayama
It is done in water and can be done by experts. It involves the procedure of breathing that allows you to stay afloat in water.
4 Proven Scientific Benefits of Pranayama:
After knowing the types of pranayama let’s know what are the benefits of pranayama.
1. Physical Benefits
When you exhale carbon dioxide and inhale oxygen, it enhances the functioning of internal organs and boosts the immune system. It strengthens the muscles and increases the capacity of the lungs and improves the circulation of the blood. You can also reap the benefits of Pranayama for skin with regular practice.
2. Mental Benefits
Pranayama mainly focuses on breathing. Inhaling and exhaling of air remove impurities from the internal organs and makes a way to flow more air to the brain. Pranayama improves focus, concentration, and attention. Breathing pure air relaxes your nervous system and reduces the stress that helps you in good decision-making and planning skills. This is how you can reap the benefits of pranayama for the brain.
3. Emotional Benefits
When you breathe in and out in the fresh open air, it helps to focus on new thoughts and let go of negative thoughts. Focusing on your breath makes you more strong mentally and emotionally. It helps you to make more strong decisions, reduce fighting response and produce a sense of calm. Your entire body is connected to your brain and when you know the actual benefits of pranayama for the brain, you will be more likely to stay calm and strong from your emotions.
4. Spiritual Benefits
When you know the other benefits of Pranayama such as it improves your focus, makes you strong emotionally and physically fit, it will have a wonderful impact on prayer. You will be more likely to be more focused and concentrate on your prayer that can increase peace of inner feeling.
These are the significant benefits of pranayama that you can reap by practicing it daily for at least 15 minutes. To stay healthy and follow a healthy lifestyle, Pranayama is the best breathing technique. Whether you’re suffering from mental, physical, or emotional illness, Pranayama can solely deal with every health condition effectively.