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| Pranayama |
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Breathing is life. We can live for days without food or water, but deprive us of the breath and we will die in minutes. In view of this, it is astonishing how little attention we pay in normal life to the importance of breathing correctly. To a yogi there are two main functions of proper breathing: to bring more oxygen to the blood, and thus the brain: and to control prana or vital energy, leading to control of the mind. Pranayama - the science of breath control - consists of a series of exercises especially intended to meet these needs and keep the body in vibrant health. Yoga breathing exercises teach you how to control prana and thus control the mind, for the two are interdependent. Your state of mind is reflected in the way you breathe, it follows that by controlling the breath you can learn to control your state of mind. By regulating your breathing you are thus not only increasing your intake of oxygen and prana, but preparing yourself for the practice of concentration and meditation. |