Pranayama for Global Health

7/29/2019 Pranayama for Global Health

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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.

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Pranayama for Global Health