Sync of He lth

Pranayama
Life is a Play of Prana

Revolution for Global Health

PRATICHI MATHUR

The 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.

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Our life force, that we exhibit so joyfully, take for granted and egoistically claim as our own is little more than a spark of the universal life force. The Maha Prana flows through this universe uninterrupted and feeds us each individually through our breathing process. As we inhale mouthfuls of Prana via our breath, we live; as we lose the ability to receive it or utilize it, we age before time, ail and then die.

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Association of Prana with Breath
Though 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 of Yoga informs us that we human beings possess 72,000 nadis.

We Forgot to Breathe
We 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 psychological processes through which the true Self or our spiritual truth can express itself.

A body in which the Prana is flowing will revel in optimum immunity and restored ability to experience joy and enthusiasm.
When we breathe in, the rejuvenating Prana of the entire universe can 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 unchartered 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 Prana - 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 were 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 bodies 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 Quagmire

Pranayama 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/internal breath retention/external breath retention maximizes Prana absorption, retention and application in healing the body and mind.

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In fact, according to the system of Yoga as a path of selfrealization, 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.

Expanding into Subtler States of Being

Pranayama is generally defined as breath control. But if we look at the Sanskrit word Pranayama we understand that from the constituent sub-words Prana + ayama that this activity is more than merely controlling our breathing process. The word ayama literally means expansion or extension and this is referring to the infinite ways in which our pranic or etheric body expands in vibration through Pranayama. The science of Yoga declares that we humans have five bodies called Koshas. The Sanskrit word Kosha literally means a sheath or a covering pointing to the fact that the true Self is enclosed

Patanjalis Eight Steps to Self-Realization

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Yama Niyama Asana Pratyhara Dharana Dhyana Samadhi Ethical behavior Conscious lifestyle Body/Mind stabilizing yoga postures Control of senses to go deeper within Cultivation of concentration Meditation on true Self Self-realization

Pranayama Prana management

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within 5 sheaths. These Koshas also represent the different dimensions of human life. Sheath 1 Food Body Sanskrit name Annamaya Kosha /outermost covering of true Self/grossest body Manomaya Kosha Anandamaya Kosha/innermost covering of true Self/subtlest body 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, taming 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 practices were developed over thousands of years ago in India, and later elaborated into a full science by sage Patanjali. Ayurveda too declares that one of the main reasons we fall sick is the disturbance of Prana (Vayu).

2 Energy Body Pranamaya Kosha 3 Mind Body 5 Bliss Body 4 Psychic Body Vijnanmaya Kosha

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 to go 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.

Prana is the Vital Link

Prana, is neither the completely gross matter state that makes up the body, and nor is it the subtle matter that operates at the mental plane. Rather, it is an intermediary energy state that connects the two separate realms of body and mind. Prana serves 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, one 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 be regulated and allowed to flow in its proper direction. If Prana is like a wild wind, it will destroy both body and mind. If Prana 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.

The Body is Healed

The science of Yoga declares that our gross body made up of flesh and bones and renewed daily by the food we eat, is supported

Chronic Diseases and Cancer

Many severe diseases such as cancer first occur at the Prana level and only manifest symptoms in the physical body much later. Disturbances in the Prana plane create severe mental conditions such as Schizophrenia and chronic depression; neurological conditions like Motor Neuron Disease and Neurasthenia, and bodily challenges like Paralysis, Asthma, etc. If Prana is made healthy, the body, therefore, is rendered healthy and whole again.

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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 or Yogic 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 the potential of turning our health around and healthy individuals will lead to the manifestation of a healthy planet. The need of the hour is to understand the importance of Yogic medicine Pranayama, and make every effort to learn it in a correct manner and then practice it assiduously in our daily life. When we are healed we can give back by contributing to a whole movement in consciousness that is spinning off from Pranayamas heartland India, spearheaded by teachers like Swami Ramdev and other noble souls. This revolution is making health and

Prana, is neither the completely gross matter state that makes up the body, and nor is it the subtle matter that operates at the mental plane.
The Seed of Right Practice from a Living Master
If 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 an earnest 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. well-being accessible and affordable to at-risk communities in India and now worldwide. So there is hope and in time, the entire planet will be benefited, 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 flowers, making sick babies smile with burgeoning health; restoring wellbeing to the suffering, joy to the gloomy and hope to the disillusioned. Om Shanti!

Pranayama for Global Health

Pranayama 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.

Pratichi Mathur is an Ayurveda pioneer, master healer, mystic teacher, and published author. Pratichi hails from a lineage of Vedanta sages in India. A lifelong 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 California Association 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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