Corona and 8 types of Pranayam
The Eight Types of Pranayama One Needs to Practice to lead for Meditation
Pranayama, or say the yogic science of breathing offers enormous benefit to the human body and brain. It’s one of the most ancient disciplines practiced in India for attaining peace and self-awareness. Famous Sage Patanjali has also mentioned in his Yoga Sutras about the benefits of Pranayama and how it should be practiced. Researchers and experts of modern science have supported the theories mentioned. Pranayama is capable of treating asthma, stress-related disorder like anxiety and depression by channelizing the energy to the 72 nadis in our body, helping us improve our well-being.
Types of Pranayama
Many of us are unaware of eight major disciplines of Pranayama that helps in regulating and controlling the breath.
Nadi Sodhana This yoga pranayama is innovative and specialized in bringing balances all the three doshas of the human body — the mind, body, and soul. For performing Nadi Sodhna, you need to sit in a comfortable in a cross-legged position. Now use the right hand to close the right side of your nose, inhale deeply with the left nostril. Repeat the same with left nostril. Practice it for 10 -15 times every day.
Shitali Pranayama — This is the most refreshing breathing exercise. You need to roll your tongue in an “O” shape and start to inhale through the mouth. Hold your breath and practice Jalandhar bandh. Do exhalation from your nostrils after some time. You can repeat it five to ten times. Shitali Pranayama mitigates pitta and increases Kapha and Vata doshas.
Ujjayi Pranayama — This type of pranayama is about mimicking the sound the ocean or waves by inhaling from your nostrils and making sound from the throat. Seat in a comfortable position, start inhaling, and exhaling from your mouth. Constrict your throat as if something is chocking, it will create an oceanic sound. Repeat it for ten to fifteen times; you will experience betterment in throat related issues.
Kapalabhati Pranayama — This type of pranayama is wholly related to deep inhalation and forceful exhalation of air in a yogic position. Air from the lungs is exhaled forcefully, but inhalation is done involuntarily. Kapalbhati Pranayama is liked for improving alertness and concentration. It also strengthens abdominal muscles and helps to burn calories.
Bhastrika Pranayama — This pranayama is best for increasing the blood circulation in the body. It also activates body channels. For practicing Bhastrika Pranayama, you need to sit in a Padmasana position, keeping your spine straight and eyes close. Inhale deeply with nostrils; fill your lungs with air and then exhale forcefully through nostrils so that your stomach will go deep inside. Bhastrika Pranayama helps a lot in calming your mind. Any asthma patient can practice it to remove inflammation of the throat.
Bhramari Pranayama — This is the humming bee pranayama that mimics the sound of a bee. Bhramari Pranayama is done by closing your ears with the thumb and eyes with the help of fingers. Take a deep breath and exhale slowly making a buzzing sound like that of a bee. Benefits of Bhramari Pranayama are an increase in concentration and memory improvement.
Anuloma & Viloma Pranayama — This is alternate breathing exercise. It involves pausing of breathing at regular intervals. It is divided into two stages called as paused inhalation and paused exhalation. You need to lie down in a comfortable position and relax your body and mind. Now inhale for 2 to 3 seconds and pause, then again restart inhalation and pause after 2 seconds. Repeat the process until the lungs feel full of air. Exhale slowly. It is known as Viloma pranayama. Whereas, Anuloma pranayama is breathing nostrils in an alternative way. Both are almost same and help in cleansing of nasal passages.
Sheetkari Pranayama — This is more like the Shitali Pranayama but with changes in practice. In this pranayama, you have to produce “Sheetkar” sound from the mouth. Inhale air by keeping your tongue behind the teeth. Apply the Jalandhar bandh and hold your breath. Exhale air using the nostrils. This pranayama should be practiced in summer for five to ten times. It will keep your body temperature under control. more
Pranayama, or say the yogic science of breathing offers enormous benefit to the human body and brain. It’s one of the most ancient disciplines practiced in India for attaining peace and self-awareness. Famous Sage Patanjali has also mentioned in his Yoga Sutras about the benefits of Pranayama and how it should be practiced. Researchers and experts of modern science have supported the theories mentioned. Pranayama is capable of treating asthma, stress-related disorder like anxiety and depression by channelizing the energy to the 72 nadis in our body, helping us improve our well-being.
Types of Pranayama
Many of us are unaware of eight major disciplines of Pranayama that helps in regulating and controlling the breath.
Nadi Sodhana This yoga pranayama is innovative and specialized in bringing balances all the three doshas of the human body — the mind, body, and soul. For performing Nadi Sodhna, you need to sit in a comfortable in a cross-legged position. Now use the right hand to close the right side of your nose, inhale deeply with the left nostril. Repeat the same with left nostril. Practice it for 10 -15 times every day.
Shitali Pranayama — This is the most refreshing breathing exercise. You need to roll your tongue in an “O” shape and start to inhale through the mouth. Hold your breath and practice Jalandhar bandh. Do exhalation from your nostrils after some time. You can repeat it five to ten times. Shitali Pranayama mitigates pitta and increases Kapha and Vata doshas.
Ujjayi Pranayama — This type of pranayama is about mimicking the sound the ocean or waves by inhaling from your nostrils and making sound from the throat. Seat in a comfortable position, start inhaling, and exhaling from your mouth. Constrict your throat as if something is chocking, it will create an oceanic sound. Repeat it for ten to fifteen times; you will experience betterment in throat related issues.
Kapalabhati Pranayama — This type of pranayama is wholly related to deep inhalation and forceful exhalation of air in a yogic position. Air from the lungs is exhaled forcefully, but inhalation is done involuntarily. Kapalbhati Pranayama is liked for improving alertness and concentration. It also strengthens abdominal muscles and helps to burn calories.
Bhastrika Pranayama — This pranayama is best for increasing the blood circulation in the body. It also activates body channels. For practicing Bhastrika Pranayama, you need to sit in a Padmasana position, keeping your spine straight and eyes close. Inhale deeply with nostrils; fill your lungs with air and then exhale forcefully through nostrils so that your stomach will go deep inside. Bhastrika Pranayama helps a lot in calming your mind. Any asthma patient can practice it to remove inflammation of the throat.
Bhramari Pranayama — This is the humming bee pranayama that mimics the sound of a bee. Bhramari Pranayama is done by closing your ears with the thumb and eyes with the help of fingers. Take a deep breath and exhale slowly making a buzzing sound like that of a bee. Benefits of Bhramari Pranayama are an increase in concentration and memory improvement.
Anuloma & Viloma Pranayama — This is alternate breathing exercise. It involves pausing of breathing at regular intervals. It is divided into two stages called as paused inhalation and paused exhalation. You need to lie down in a comfortable position and relax your body and mind. Now inhale for 2 to 3 seconds and pause, then again restart inhalation and pause after 2 seconds. Repeat the process until the lungs feel full of air. Exhale slowly. It is known as Viloma pranayama. Whereas, Anuloma pranayama is breathing nostrils in an alternative way. Both are almost same and help in cleansing of nasal passages.
Sheetkari Pranayama — This is more like the Shitali Pranayama but with changes in practice. In this pranayama, you have to produce “Sheetkar” sound from the mouth. Inhale air by keeping your tongue behind the teeth. Apply the Jalandhar bandh and hold your breath. Exhale air using the nostrils. This pranayama should be practiced in summer for five to ten times. It will keep your body temperature under control. more
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Nikitaji . Thanks for the valuable infrmn. Though I have been doing some of the 8 mentioned with out knowing the names. I think Shitali should not be performed by asthmatic as it may increase the kaph,acc.to you. You have any idea why there is an inflammation of lungs in asthmatic. Whether a person already having tested for Corona virus should do all these yoga. At what stage it may not be possible to do or one should not attempt. Pl throw some light if you can. Thanks. more
Oct 25
Nikita Ji, your topic and the benefits are excellent. Please do not explain the breathing process in a hurry. Someone who has not done these Pranayamas before will not understand. more
Oct 15
