"Everything that moves in the Universe is a manifestation of Prana: thanks to Prana the wind blows, the Earth trembles, the ax is lowered, the plane takes off, the star explodes and the philosopher thinks. Prana is universal. We exist in an ocean of prana of which each being is a whirlwind. Yogis affirm that what characterizes life is its ability to attract to itself, to accumulate it and to transform it to act in the internal environment and in the external world."
What are breathing techniques for?
The breathing techniques provided by Yoga are very beneficial for the flexibility of the lungs, the optimal absorption of oxygen and expulsion of carbon dioxide, the amplitude of the respiratory capacity and the integral health and vitality of all the systems of our organism.
On a physical level, the lungs are responsible for gas exchange that enables oxygenation of the blood and the elimination of toxins through carbon dioxide. The more flexible our lungs are, the better our respiratory capacity will be, that is, the ability of our body to clean and purify the blood that will later nourish the organs of our body. Here lies part of the importance of breathing to maintain the optimal performance of all biological functions.
Furthermore, a wide breathing, involving all the lungs, favors the proper functioning of the organs of the digestive system. The diaphragm, a blanket-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic region from the abdominal region, and which, when contracted downwards, enables inhalation, performs a massage function for the viscera that stimulates their function, facilitating the processes of digestion of food, absorption of nutrients and elimination of waste. The breathing techniques that we apply during Yoga classes help to make the diaphragm more flexible, which, as we have seen, plays an essential role in our well-being.
As we are a unit in which the different systems interrelate and stimulate each other, for our body to function harmoniously it is necessary for our Nervous System to be balanced. Although the Nervous System is autonomous, that is, it does not need any action on our part to function, we can influence it through breathing. The different respiratory phases influence one and the other branch of the Autonomic Nervous System; inhalation stimulates the Sympathetic Nervous System, while exhalation influences the Parasympathetic Nervous System. Each of these systems is responsible for different physiological functions. For example, the Parasympathetic Nervous System is what enables the digestion of food, the elimination of waste and is responsible for the rest function in the body. So, beyond the diaphragmatic flexibility that we can generate with breathing techniques, by breathing efficiently we are favoring digestion by stimulating the system that regulates it.
At an energetic level, the practice of Pranayama -name with which we designate the control and distribution of vital energy in the body- is essential to endow us with vitality and energy. The word Pranayama comes from Sanskrit and can be translated in two different ways: as prana-yama, in which case it means "control of vital energy", or as prana-ayama, which means "expansion of vital energy". And here comes an essential question...
What is Prana?
According to Swami Sivananda, "Prana is the sum total of all the energies contained in the Universe." It is the Cosmic Energy that permeates everything when it exists in the Universe. Andre Van Lysebeth (1971) says:
This definition of Van Lysebeth seems to me quite complete and clear. Living beings are nourished by prana through various sources such as, for example, telluric radiation from the ground, electromagnetic radiation from the Sun, the organic food we consume, water and air. The prana that we take from the air through breathing becomes the energy that activates the processes in the body and guides them throughout their journey. Once in the body, prana acquires 4 other functions or different energy expressions called vayu (wind, current of vital air) (Stephens, 2010): Apana-vayu (downward energy that removes waste from the body and negative experiences), Samana- vayu (energy that moves in a whirlpool towards the center of the body, in charge of the digestion of food, and the repair and production of new cells), Udana-vayu (ascending energy in charge of the control of the vocal cords -including the production of sounds when singing, speaking, laughing and crying-, the exchange of air and the intake of food, as well as representing the conscious energy necessary to emit sounds that manifest our Being. It is the main positive energy that stimulates the evolution of human beings. consciousness) and finally Vyana-vayu (this energy that moves from the inside out is responsible both for distributing the energy of air and food throughout the body, and for the processes of contraction and expansion that make circulation and voluntary movements possible. It is the energy who assists all the other vayus in their work).
Why did I tell you all this? So that we can more easily understand that, through the different breathing techniques, we can directly influence the intake, administration, distribution, storage and disposal of energy in our body.
Knowing the energies that operate within us and the influence that breathing has on practically all aspects of our lives allows us to choose in a conscious and informed manner the actions or practices that we can implement to increase our psychophysical-emotional well-being. And, consequently, have a better quality of life.
Nadi Sodhana - Alternate Breathing
Nadi: subtle energy channel
Sodhan: cleansing, purification
This pranayama consists of cleaning the subtle energy channels that make up our body.
This breath balances and equalizes the current of prana (vital energy) that passes through both nostrils, purifying your entire body.
On a physical level, it produces calm and balance in all the systems and functions of our body, at the same time that it calms the waves of thought, relaxing your mind and generating a state of serenity and equanimity on an emotional level.
Our nostrils are directly related to the Autonomic Nervous System, in charge of vital functions of our body such as digestion, breathing, heart rate, among others. The ANS is made up of two branches called the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic Nervous System. Although this system is autonomous, we can influence it through breathing. The right nostril connects with the Sympathetic Nervous System, responsible for acting in response to stress, while the left nostril is related to the Parasympathetic Nervous System, responsible for the relaxation response and generating the state of rest. By breathing alternately through one nostril and the other, equating inhalation with exhalation, these two systems are balanced, generating a state of harmony and well-being.
At a subtle level, this breath cleanses and purifies the main channels through which the vital energy (called prana ) flows that keeps our physical body alive. These channels are called Ida and Pingala and correspond to the left and right nostrils respectively. There is much more to say about the nadis and the subtle energy that is our source of life, but that will be a topic for another post.
Next, I leave you an explanatory video in which we practice alternate breathing.
Enjoy it!
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