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International Journal of Yogic, Human Movement and Sports Sciences
  • Printed Journal
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  • Peer Reviewed Journal
ISSN: 2456-4419

2018, Vol. 3 Issue 1, Part G

Importance of pranayama in yoga

AUTHOR(S): Hanish Guretia
ABSTRACT:
Breathing is life. The ancient yogis in India knew the intimate connection between breathe and the mind. For example, when your mind is angry, watch your breathing. It will be disturbed. And similarly, if you hold your breath for long, your mind will get agitated. The yogis were trying to get some degree of control over the mind. By controlling the breath, they were indirectly able to influence the mind. Breathing is an automatic process controlled by the autonomic nervous system. We do not have any conscious control over it. The science of bio-energy including the breathing movements is the practical yoga par excellence in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna that one should practice yoga to purify himself. Pranayama, or control or regulation to purify him is the fourth step in Ashtanga yoga system of patanjali. The control of breath leads to control of the life force or Prana. The ancient yogic developed many breathing techniques to maximize the benefits of prana. The word Pranayama is made up of two words, Prana and Yama. Here prana means the capacity to keep body alive by air i.e breath and Yama means expansion, stretching or extension and control of breath. Thus pranayama means the art of controlling breath. Pranayama is used in yoga to clear and cleanses the body and the mind.
Pages: 378-380  |  2384 Views  1314 Downloads


International Journal of Yogic, Human Movement and Sports Sciences
How to cite this article:
Hanish Guretia. Importance of pranayama in yoga. Int J Yogic Hum Mov Sports Sciences 2018;3(1):378-380.
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