Inhaling prana
Nobody taught us to breathe - we were born and began to do it completely instinctively. Interestingly, children also instinctively always breathe through their nose, and as they grow up, we begin to gradually inhale air through our mouths, because it’s easier this way, and a person prefers to follow the path of least resistance.
Although at the same time it is laid down by nature so that we must breathe through our nose. Those who breathe in and out in this way have better health and vitality, and we must strive to remember the long-forgotten natural breathing mechanism.
There is a very ancient science dedicated exclusively to the ability to breathe. This is the part of yoga called pranyama. Pranayama is an ancient system of breathing practices. The term "prana" means breath, life, vital energy, and "yama" means stopping, control, management. That is, pranayama is literally the control of breathing and prana - vital energy.
Sometimes we experience a breakdown and apathy just because we have not received the necessary amount of vital energy with the air. And having learned to breathe correctly, we are filled with strength and often cure various diseases.
Naturally, there is more prana in nature, in the fresh air, in parks, near trees, plants, etc. Therefore, for health, you need to spend as much time as possible in such places, inhaling pure prana. At home, it is necessary to open the vents and windows as often as possible, because in a closed room the reserves of prana are depleted.
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Kumbhaka for health
Pranayama is a very complex system, and people have been mastering it for years, while achieving amazing results - complete control over their minds, emotions, the ability to heal diseases with the help of breathing, etc. However, there are exercises that anyone can master.
Deep breathing - you need to inhale deeply and exhale through the nose. From this a person calms down, thoughts become harmonious, heartbeat slows down, etc. It is no coincidence that when stressed, a person is advised to take a deep breath. For the same reason, an agitated or crying person is given a drink of water - in fact, because in order to swallow water, a person has to breathe deeper and less often, while he involuntarily breathes through his nose, and it is from this that he calms down.
Kumbhaka - holding the breath. Curiously, many children like to hold their breath, competing with themselves or with others - how long they can not breathe. Interestingly, instinctively, they perform one of the oldest beneficial practices in the world, which in Ayurveda is called kumbhaka - holding the breath.
It is deliberately used for healing, calming the nervous system, developing attention and clarifying thoughts. They begin to train by holding the breath for 15-20 seconds. It is only important to know that holding your breath for too long is harmful for an unprepared person, you do not need to bring yourself to hypoxia.
Alternating breathing - a person inhales alternately through the left and right nostril. In fact, normally, a person already unconsciously breathes with both nostrils in turn, but as I said above, we rarely breathe through our nose at all, and this practice allows the body to remember this mechanism. It is performed simply - first, inhale through one nostril, then through the other, while the second nostril is closed with a finger.
It is important to know that when performing any breathing practice, one must concentrate on breathing, completely immerse oneself in the process. In this case, the brain switches from problems, obsessive thoughts and states, which allows it to begin to function normally, consciousness becomes clearer. And you calm down, feel control over your body and mind, and even health.
Natalia Trubinovskaya