Blog Layout
Pranayama in a nutshell
Karim Baz • Feb 16, 2022
The process of creation takes place within and our breath is our connection to this process.
If we look closely at the plant shoots, or a child growing up, we realize that the raw material for the growth are collected from the outside, so growth happens using external energies; but the process of transmutation and creation itself seems to be taking place deep within.
To reach this deep vital force that resides within us, our breath is the perfect medium to ride; by using different proven breathing techniques being traditional or modern, we tap into this aspect of ourselves, the infinite and pure vital energy, and experience its neutrality.
Each ancient civilization has its own distinct inspiration, the eastern yogic culture paid a special attention to breathing through what is known as
Pranayama, which in its turn means “Prana” a word that doesn’t have an accurate synonym in the English language but can be translated to “Vital energy” or “life force” – Breath; and “Yam” means “control” therefore the word “Pranayama” means “Breath-control” or “breath-restraint” or even can be understood as Prana-ayama which is “Freedom of breath”.
In the Yogic culture, it is believed that our bodies contain 72000 energy channels known as “Nadis”; they have no physical expression, they are like a river through which the vital energy flows, and therefor exist 72000 ways for the energy to circulate in the body.
" The more we experience life events that have big emotional impact on us, the more we get distracted by the latter and further ourselves from this infinite energy that resides within
"
Pranayama practices are mainly used with the goal of retaining the Prana in the body by “clearing” the “Nadis” or energy channels, the fact that helps the energy to flow in a harmonious manner which results in a higher capacity of concentration and an awakening of our inner force.
With the proper breathing practices, guidance and affirmations, we are able to release out of our body whatever doesn’t serve us anymore, the layers we created that partially disconnected us from this energy, being anxiety, belief systems, muscular contractions, trapped emotions, stress and lack of self-love among many others.
Today, using advanced technologies, scientists are able to scan the brain and detect the different regions affected by a specific stimulus being physical or emotional, and using these technologies different pranayama practices and their effect on the human body and brain are being researched; as this recent study
suggests “practicing Bhastrika Pranayama, is of a great help in modulating the activity of brain regions involved in emotional processing, and significantly decrease the states of anxiety and negative affect.”
Want some inbox love?
Join my mailing list!
transitioning to slow living in nature offers a way to escape the chaos and find peace and tranquility. By appreciating the small moments and savoring the simple joys in life, we can reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and improve our overall well-being.
Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed by the fast-paced world we live in today? Do you find yourself always rushing from one thing to the next without taking a moment to breathe? If so, you may benefit from incorporating slow living practices into your daily routine. Slow living is a lifestyle choice that prioritizes quality over quantity, mindfulness over multitasking, and savoring the present moment over constant hustle. But what exactly is slow living, and how does it impact our mental and physical well-being?
Discover how we unconsciously psychologically adopt self-sabotage ideas, why we do it, and how to overcome it. Break free from self-destructive patterns and live a fulfilling life.
Learn what ADHD is and how it affects the lives of adults. Discover tips and strategies for managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
pHOTO CREDIT: PIXABAY
Discover the psychology behind our search for extremes and explore what drives our unconscious desire to live life on the edge. Why are we extremists sometimes? Find out here!
Breathing is a fundamental process that keeps us alive, but have you ever considered its impact on your mental well-being? It may come as a surprise, but there is a direct relationship between healthy breathing patterns and anxiety. In this article, we will explore how breathing patterns affect the anatomy of our bodies, delve into the interconnectedness of breathing and anxiety, and discuss why establishing healthy breathing patterns is crucial for our overall well-being.
Microdosing is an alternative aproach to mental health, creativity, and productivity. This article is a guide to any person looking to learn more about microdosing.
Some habits are unconsciously developed from internal or external stress, and others are developed mindfully and for a specific goal; but what are habits? how do they form in the brain, and why does it feel so hard sometimes to release them and integrate new ones? Through the work of Descartes, Kant, and Sartre, habit was thought to be a kind of “mechanism that inhibits consciousness and freedom”. Philosophers like Felix Ravaisson who considered that “actions that are repeated over time become habits, with a curious life of their own” and Henry-Luis Bergson, who took cues from Ravaisson to write about active and passive habits, understood Habit as creative and addressed to the future, rather than negative and arresting freedom. Today, The American Journal of Psychology defines a “habit, from a psychological perspective, [as] a more or less fixed way of thinking, willing, or feeling acquired through previous repetition of a mental experience", and neuroscience has its standpoint on the topic. Neuroscientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that when practicing a habitual routine such as brushing one’s teeth, certain neurons in the basal ganglia will activate or “fire” at the beginning of the routine. Then, they lay quiet while the routine proceeds. Finally, they fire again when the routine is completed (Martiros, Burgess, & Graybiel, 2018). So now we know that neuronal networks lay the infrastructure for habits. A Habit becomes integrated into our life, so even if we think of something else, some specialized neurons in our brains will “make sure” to remind us to perform the habit.
What we call today psychedelic substances, were for a very long time considered sacred natural medicine among different cultures, mainly the Indigenous peoples of America including the Shipibo, Huichol, and Mazatec as well as the Aztec, Maya, Olmec societies, among others… Unfortunately, this kind of wisdom and knowledge have witnessed centuries of extremely aggressive suppression that started with the Inquisition of the Americas and got even worse upon the start of the “War on drugs” led by the USA in 1971, which was the main reason behind cutting the funding on a large number of clinical trials and studies that were going on at that time, aiming to learn and understand the medical benefits of these naturally occurring substances. Despite all the political pressure, a large number of professionals from the medical field - especially the mental health field - believed in our need for this kind of research after seeing that mental health problems are always on the rise, and the typical treatments used today, are not proving their effectiveness in many of the cases; as a result, the studies on the topic have reemerged over the past couple of decades, proving the potential of addressing specific mental health problems and even enhancing the well-being in general.