Praanayama: On Improving Every Moment of Your Life

Indians have 30% weaker lungs than Europeans! This was an article I came across in the Times of India regarding the worsening air quality of Indian cities and its adverse health effect on the population. This is something really shocking, since India, the second biggest man power on Earth is fast turning into an urbanized civil society. 

Urbanization and pollution are larger issues. Individuals can’t turn it around on a single day. But Ayurveda and Praanayama practice can turn it in favour of individuals. Ayurveda is not merely a science which deals with diseases and treatments; it discusses “Ayu” which means life, life in its every aspect.

Praanayama does not mean just breathing in, keeping the breathed air in and exhaling it. It also means establishing control on the entire breathing process, and maintaining mental equilibrium, and concentration of mind. “Praanayama” is a Sanskrit word made up of two halves, “prana” and “ayama”, meaning “mastery of the life force”, or sometimes, “removal of obstacles to free the flow of life force.” In yoga, the life force, known as prana, refers to the energy that animates, controls, and permeates the world in and around us. Praanayama challenges us to use our entire lung capacity, thereby increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our lungs.

According to a recent study conducted on 10,000 healthy non smoking individuals, the main cause of worsening lung health is air pollution. Measurement of peak expiratory flow shows functioning of Indian lungs are 30% lower than those of Europeans. Needless to say about the people who smoke; are breathing in death with every puff.

Here, I would recommend breathing techniques to be adopted as a routine. A full expiration leads to empty the lungs completely. This means the bottom of the lungs gets a thorough airing when we do Praanayama exercises. Like the bottom of any container, gravity will tend to accumulate material there. When we use our lungs completely on a regular basis, we have a better chance of keeping the bottom of our lungs cleaner. Moreover, regular practice of a full- breath technique will keep the tissues of the lower lungs more nourished, flexible, and free of toxins. Just like the heart starve for blood when the arteries are harden and narrow, the lower lung tissues may starve for nutrients and oxygen when it is barely used and seldom moved.

Practicing Praanayama during pregnancy is also very important. The time between conception and birth of a child is perhaps one of the most vulnerable life stages. During this period the environment has tremendous and lasting effects on the health of the baby. Praanayama during this period strengthens the respiratory system thereby promoting proper diaphragmatic breathing, relaxes the mind and body, oxygenates the blood and purges the lungs of residual carbon dioxide.

The aim of both Ayurveda in general and Praanayama in particular is to help us participate in the nearly unlimited intelligence of the life force so that we can share in its capacities. Instead of fighting nature, we gradually become able to partner with it. The only thing you need to do is to practice Praanayama each day.