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7/29/2019 Pranayama for Global Health
1/6Tathaastu10
Sync of He lth
Revolution forPranayama
Global Health
Life is a Play of PranaThe Human body is a field of cosmic activity. The field is full of Prana that
is the vital force that animates the body, enlivening it with motion, intelligence,
radiance, transformation and artistry.
If this cosmos is a theater and we humans the puppets, then Prana is the
string that controls our nebulous theatrical existence, now binding us, now
releasing us. It is the string, to which our human existence is wrought,
that dictates how long our theatrical appearance will be;and when our performance will come to an end.
PRATICHI MATHUR
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Our life force, that we exhibit so
joyfully, take for granted and
egoistically claim as our own is litt
more than a spark of the universa
life force. The Maha Prana flowsthrough this universe uninterrupte
and feeds us each individually
through our breathing process. A
we inhale mouthfuls of Prana via
our breath, we live; as we lose the
ability to receive it or utilize it, w
age before time, ail and then die.
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Association of Prana with BreathThough closely associated with the air we breathe in, Prana is
subtler than air. Rather, air is the medium through which we
absorb Prana into our being. This Prana is introduced into our
being through breath, and upon entering our being it courses
through invisible channels called nadis (a concept similar to the
Chinese meridians), that crisscross our being. The science ofYoga informs us that we human beings possess 72,000 nadis.
A body in which the Prana is flowing will
revel in optimum immunity and restored
ability to experience joy and enthusiasm.
We Forgot to BreatheWe humans forgot to breathe. We breathe to stay alive but we
forget to breathe long and deep breaths to recharge our bodies
refuel our Prana tanks, and rejoice in our minds with the rasa
or pleasure, a quality intrinsic to Prana. After all, Prana is the
foundation of life and the activator of biological and psychologica
processes through which the true Self or our spiritual truth canexpress itself.
When we breathe in, the rejuvenating Prana of the entire universecan potentially enter us and quickly penetrate via nadis or
invisible flow channels into each and every cell and regulate,
revitalize and rejuvenate its activities.
And, when we breathe out; we breathe out our individual Prana
back into the universe to merge back into the source. With
every breath in, begins a new cycle of life, and, with every exhale,
an expiration of what was and will never be again.
If we become conscious of the flow of Prana, with every breath
in, we have the unexplored potential of introducing into our
body the field of infinite potential, amazing vitality, and un-chartered well-being. And with every breath out, we can literally
release toxins and suppressed emotions and thereby regain health
and well-being. A body in which the Prana is
flowing will revel in optimum immunity
and restored ability to experience
joy and enthusiasm.
We treat natures free Prana buffet with endless entres of Pran- like a fast food joint, where we grab and go, rather than a
divine feast that deserves our sit down attention, appreciation
and infinite gratitude. Rather than savoring each breath we
barely move our lungs and utilize only 1/6th of our lung capacity
Surely nature had planned something nicer for us when we wer
gifted with lungs that could breathe in six times more Prana
than we currently choose to do? Perhaps our entire life would
be so differentcan you imagine?
Prana, dynamic by nature, becomes stagnant in our stiff bodie
with congested lungs and body muscles that we choose not to
move in our love of appliances, sedentary lifestyles, and addictive
comfort foods that bloat our bodies and numb our minds.
The Way Out of the QuagmirePranayama is the science of the sages of India that maps the
methods to activate our life force or Prana body. Careful regulation
of Prana, through a series of spiritually determined and
scientifically validated sequences of inhalation/exhalation/interna
breath retention/external breath retention maximizes Prana
absorption, retention and application in healing the body andmind.
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In fact, according to the system of Yoga as a path of self-
realization, as taught by sage Patanjali, Pranayama is not only
an important aid for biological and psychological health but
also an aid in spiritual health. Pranayama supports soul
recognition, an important step in a series of steps that a true
seeker must undertake to realize truth of Self from the
non-self.
It is the breath, the gift of God that is the ultimate medicine.
It is the perfect nano medicine. It reaches all corners of the body
and cures all ailments. It is the ultimate detoxifier and also the
ultimate regenerator, as with the breath comes Prana, the vital
force. This Prana takes care of the body, the mind, the emotions,
the five elements and also the five bodies that make up our
presence in this world. It is a great force, a great teacher, a great
guide. One who has control over Prana can control anything
and everything, says the renowned yoga guru Swami Ramdev
of Patanjali Yog Peeth.
Patanjalis Eight Steps
to Self-Realization
1 Yama Ethical behavior
2 Niyama Conscious lifestyle
3 Asana Body/Mind stabilizing yoga postures
4 Pranayama Prana management
5 Pratyhara Control of senses to go deeper within
6 Dharana Cultivation of concentration
7 Dhyana Meditation on true Self
8 Samadhi Self-realization
Expanding into Subtler States of BeinPranayama is generally defined as breath control. But if we loo
at the Sanskrit word Pranayama we understand that from th
constituent sub-words Prana + ayama that this activity is mo
than merely controlling our breathing process. The word
ayama literally means expansion or extension and this is referri
to the infinite ways in which our pranic or etheric body expanin vibration through Pranayama.
The science of Yoga declares that we humans have five bodie
called Koshas. The Sanskrit word Kosha literally means a shea
or a covering pointing to the fact that the true Self is enclose
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internally with our energy body made up of Prana. So Pranas
quality, quantity, state of flow or blockage influences the health
and well-being of our body and related mind processes. From
this follows the fact that a systematic and daily practice of
Pranayama will enhance and optimize our Prana body, and in
due course both our body and mind are bathed in the nectar
of self-healing bliss.
Practitioners are surprised when practicing Pranayama for a
short period begins to yield results and there is recovery even
from chronic and serious ailments. Respecting the Prana, tamin
the Prana, cultivating the Prana, listening to the Prana, fearing
the Prana, not meddling with the Prana, watching the Prana,
and meditating upon the Prana are not merely concepts but
actually a way of life steeped in Vedic practices. These practice
were developed over thousands of years ago in India, and late
elaborated into a full science by sage Patanjali. Ayurveda too
declares that one of the main reasons we fall sick is the disturbanc
of Prana (Vayu).
Prana is the Vital LinkPrana, is neither the completely gross matter state that makes
up the body, and nor is it the subtle matter that operates at th
mental plane. Rather, it is an intermediary energy state that
connects the two separate realms of body and mind. Prana serve
as the link between physical body on one end and the mind on
the other end. Prana is that vital key that opens both doors, on
into the body, and the other into the mind.According to the science of Yoga and also Ayurveda, in order
to achieve well-being for both body and mind, Prana has to b
regulated and allowed to flow in its proper direction. If Prana
is like a wild wind, it will destroy both body and mind. If Pran
is shaky and weak, then both body and mind will be depleted
If Prana is steady, nourished, and above all, regulated, then it
becomes our biggest aid and friend.
Chronic Diseases and CancerMany severe diseases such as cancer first occur at the Prana leve
and only manifest symptoms in the physical body much later
Disturbances in the Prana plane create severe mental condition
such as Schizophrenia and chronic depression;
neurological conditions like Motor Neuron Diseas
and Neurasthenia, and bodily challenges like
Paralysis, Asthma, etc. If Prana is made healthy, th
body, therefore, is rendered healthy and whole again
within 5 sheaths. These Koshas also represent the different
dimensions of human life.
Sheath Sanskrit name
1 Food Body Annamaya Kosha /outermost covering of
true Self/grossest body
2 Energy Body Pranamaya Kosha
3 Mind Body Manomaya Kosha
4 Psychic Body Vijnanmaya Kosha
5 Bliss Body Anandamaya Kosha/innermost covering
of true Self/subtlest body
So, the physical body made up of food contains inside itself the
energy body made up of Prana. This energy body contains inside
itself the mental body. This mental body contains within itself
the intellect or psychic body. It is only via the intellect body
that we can access that which is permeating inside it, the subtlest
of the subtle, the bliss body. To access the true Self, we have togo beyond the bliss body that protects the Self. The true Self as
such has no body though it takes on five bodies or sheaths or
layers of operation and dimensions of existence for the purpose
of human journey.
The Body is HealedThe science of Yoga declares that our gross body made up of
flesh and bones and renewed daily by the food we eat, is supported
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The Seed of Right Practice from
a Living MasterIf we are fortunate enough to study the discipline of our Prana
from a highly skilled and experienced Yoga and Pranayama
teacher, we can self-heal our body and mind from serious and
so called incurable afflictions.
Should we entrust our Prana to the confused instructions of anearnest but inexperienced teacher; or should our Prana be
carefully and ultra cautiously crafted under the alert guidance
of an experienced master? This is a question we must ask of
ourselves. Wrongful Prana modifications can lead to mind-body
havoc of untold proportions. Learnt well, a health that is beyond
imagination can be ours to claim, through the practice of
Pranayama the gift of sage Patanjali from India, to the rest
of us.
Pranayama for Global HealthPranayama therapy, if used on a regular basis by more and more
people across the planet, will cut down on individual and
governmental expenses, reduce health costs and tremendously
improve individual and community health. Even governments
with lack of resources can combat disease easily and economically
through educating its citizens of the benefits of the science of
Pranayama.
To merely manipulate the body and apply all sorts of chemicals
and drugs and even invasive surgeries to the body alone, while
completely neglecting the Prana yields unsatisfactory and
inadequate results. This is why, deep breathing helps, even in
the worst of stress. This is why Pranayama heals even advanced
cases of paralysis and hypertension because both are Prana
disorders. This is why modern hospitals are facilitating meditation
along with scientific relaxed breathing that is Pranayama orYogic breathing classes. Modern research and bio-feedback
studies show remarkable health gains merely by systematic breath
modulation for thirty minutes a day.
When Pranayama is practiced 30 - 45 minutes daily, it has t
potential of turning our health around and healthy individua
will lead to the manifestation of a healthy planet. The need
the hour is to understand the importance of Yogic medicine
Pranayama, and make every effort to learn it in a correct mann
and then practice it assiduously in our daily life.
When we are healed we can give back by contributing to a whomovement in consciousness that is spinning off from Pranayam
heartland India, spearheaded by teachers like Swami Ramde
and other noble souls. This revolution is making health and
well-being accessible and affordable to at-risk communities
India and now worldwide.
So there is hope and in time, the entire planet will be benefite
re-infused with Prana. I have these wishes for all:
I await the day when pure divine Prana will flow unabated
through our entire universe ripening fruits, blooming flowe
making sick babies smile with burgeoning health; restoring we
being to the suffering, joy to the gloomy and hope to thedisillusioned. Om Shanti!
Prana, is neither the completely gross matte
state that makes up the body, and nor is it th
subtle matter that operates at the mental plane
Pratichi Mathuris an Ayurvedapioneer, master healer, mystic teacher, and
published author. Pratichi hails from a
lineage of Vedanta sages in India. A life-
long healer, she began her apprenticeship
at the age of nine. She is the Founder and
Spiritual Director of Vedika Global
Foundation in Berkeley, California; Director of the CaliforniaAssociation of Ayurvedic Medicine; and leads Ayurvedic
workshops and retreats throughout the United States and India.
Pratichi Mathur is known for her unique way of expressing
Ayurveda in conjunction with Advaita Vedanta and Yoga.
Pratichi's teachings revolve around the theme of Self and
reclaiming health by reclaiming connection with our inner
Self.