<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Breathing is our most vital function and often the one we give the least importance to. In India<\/a>, the Yogis thousands of years ago recognized the importance of breathing and because of this they developed techniques that today you can benefit from to improve your health. Let me explain what is the : \"Pranayama<\/em><\/strong> and what are its benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n : \"Pranayama<\/strong><\/em> is the science of breathing in the practice of yoga and is the fourth of the 8 branches of Yoga described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjal\u00ed. Pranayama is made up of a set of breathing exercises and techniques<\/strong> which main objective is to slow down our breathing automatically, thus increasing the oxygen level<\/strong> in our organism and very importantly, increasing the expulsion of carbon dioxide metabolic wastes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n : \"Pranayama<\/strong><\/em> is a word that comes from Sanskrit and is composed by prana<\/em> <\/strong>, which means \"vital energy\"<\/strong> and ayama<\/strong><\/em> , which means \"extension or expansion\"<\/strong>. Therefore, the word Pranayama<\/em> means \"the extension or expansion of vital energy.\"<\/strong>. The : \"Pranayama<\/em> has been practiced for thousands of years. The great Yogis in the Himalayan mountain ranges considered it to be the secret to keep the mind calm<\/strong> and optimal health. There are writings that mention the techniques of : \"Pranayama<\/em> already since the 15th century, one of the best known is \"Hatha Yoga Pradipika<\/a>\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the science of : \"Pranayama<\/strong>,<\/em> our breathing cycle should consist of 4 steps: inhalation, exhalation, internal and external retention<\/strong>. For beginners in this practice the focus should be on the inhalation and exhalation but once the practitioner is advanced, the focus is placed on the retentions. Retentions are the real magic of practice<\/strong> from Pranayama.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It should be deep, slow, uniform and following the patterns of yogic breathing (complete breathing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Retention of internal breathing or Antar Kumbhaka<\/p>\n\n\n\n After inhaling, we pause the breathing process and hold the air in the lungs. The main objective is to achieve a better metabolization of oxygen. It can last from 3 to 15 seconds for beginners to several minutes for advanced practitioners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the process responsible for expelling air and carbon dioxide metabolic wastes. During exhalation we are purifying the body of impurities. The exhalation should be deep and last longer than the inhalation<\/strong> (the goal for an advanced practitioner is for the exhalation to last twice as long as the inhalation).<\/p>\n\n\n\n After exhaling, we stop the breathing process and hold with empty lungs.<\/strong> (only for practitioners of : \"Pranayama<\/em> advanced).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are different types of breathing depending on the body zone that we use for this process and that directly affects the depth of breathing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the most common breathing applied on its own. When inhaling, the lower part of the lungs fills with air and as a consequence the diaphragm descends and the abdomen swells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the breathing in which the rib cage expands and we do not let air pass to the abdominal area. The breathing capacity and oxygen intake with this technique is less than with abdominal breathing and therefore less efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is produced when we fill only the upper part of the lungs with air and this process causes a movement of the clavicle. I should add that this type of breathing is the least efficient if we apply it alone and can cause health problems if we abuse it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the combination of abdominal, thoracic and clavicular breathing. This is the type of breathing that we want to obtain automatically with the continuous practice of exercises of pranayama.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several types of : \"Pranayama<\/em> with different objectives and benefits. Here I indicate the most known when you start in this practice and in the next articles I will explain in detail each of these types of Pranayama,<\/em> what they consist of and their benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n: \"Pranayama<\/em> what is it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Origin of the : \"Pranayama<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The stages of the : \"Pranayama<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Inhalation or Pooraka<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Exhalation or Rechaka<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
External breath-holding or Bahir Kumbhaka<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Types of breathing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Abdominal or Diaphragmatic Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thoracic, Costal or Intercostal Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Clavicular Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yogic or Complete Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Types of : \"Pranayama<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cleaning Exercises - Stimulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Balance Exercises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n