Pranayama, or yoga breathing exercise, has been widely referred to as the ‘science of breath control’.
It comprises exercises designed to keep the body in a vibrant, healthy condition. This article will provide a brief introduction to Pranayama, address its’ many advantages and give examples of beginner yoga breathing exercise practices.
What Is Pranayama?
The term Pranayama literally means “breath control“. Pranayama yoga breathing exercise practices specifically help practitioners prepare themselves for meditation. Pranayama consists of 4 stages:
Arambha - commencement and awakening of one’s interest in Pranayama
Ghata - where the three sariras (gross, subtle and causal) surround the soul
Parichay - experience of the knowledge of Pranayama
Nispatti – going beyond the physical body to unite with the supreme
What Are The Benefits Of Pranayama?
The benefits of Pranayama are numerous. By focusing on and perfecting something that is essentially an automatic process, you can benefit your health enormously.
Pranayama teaches the “proper” way to breathe. Instead of breathing from our chest and under-using our lungs, you can increase the capacity of your lungs by breathing slowly and deeply.
Pranayama helps reduce the toxins and wastes that accumulate within your body, and may act as a preventative for illness.
Pranayama is helpful for digestion; learning to breathe properly helps improve metabolism.
The concentration and focus required to effectively practice yoga breathing exercise methods helps improve self-control and willpower.
Pranayama repels stress and allows the body to relax.
When the body is relaxed and the mind is focused, yoga breathing exercise methods allow for a more fulfilling spiritual journey.
Two Beginner Pranayama Exercises
Kapalabhati (Cleansing Breath)
specifically designed to clear mucus from the air passages
Take two normal breaths Inhale, then exhale, pulling in your abdomen.
Repeat twenty times, keeping a constant rhythm with emphasis on the exhalation.
Inhale, exhale fully, inhale fully and hold your breath for as long as possible.
Slowly exhale.
Anuloma Viloma
(alternate nostril breathing), which equalizes the flow of Prana in the body.
Adopt the Vishnu Mudra with your right hand, tucking your index and middle fingers into your nostrils. Your thumb and other fingers should be placed either side of your nostrils.
Inhale through the left nostril, holding the right one closed with your thumb; count to four.
Close both nostrils and hold your breath; count to 16.
Breathe out through your right nostril, holding the left one closed with your ring and little fingers; count to eight.
Breathe in through the right nostril, closing the left one with your fingers; count to four.
Close both nostrils and hold your breath; count to 16.
Breathe out through your left nostril, closing the right one with your thumb; count to eight.
There are many other yoga breathing exercise practices, from simple ones to quite advance techniques. These are best learned via practical demonstration from an instructor; attempting to perform more advanced yoga breathing exercise methods without adequate instruction can result in injury.
Thursday 29 April, 2010
Wednesday 28 April, 2010
The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed 22 criminal cases filed against South Indian actress Kushboo for her remarks in various magazines allegedly endorsing pre-marital sex
A bench comprising Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and B. S. Chauhan allowed the appeal filed by the actress against the decision of the Madras High Court which had dismissed her plea to quash the cases.
The cases were registered in various places in Tamil Nadu for her interviews in 2005. Kushboo, once venerated as a goddess in Tamil Nadu for her roles in Tamil cinema in the 1990s, had kicked up a row by saying that pre-marital sex was fine “provided safety measures are followed to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases”. She went on to say that “no educated man would expect his wife to be a virgin”.
The remarks sparked a storm in Tamil Nadu. The Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) hauled her over the coals and filed a slew of cases in various courts throughout Tamil Nadu. The actor also had to face a series of protests and footwear and eggs were hurled at her when she appeared before a Magistrate.
The DPI had gone to the extent of saying that “Kushboo made the remarks on pre-marital sex to justify her own life’s experience. She had no right to talk of the chastity of Tamil women.” He went on to note, “It is not correct to advocate free sex. Marriages are based purely on trust. Both partners have to be faithful to each other if the marriage is to work…It is important to protect the institution of marriage.”
Earlier, the Supreme Court had opined that a man and woman living together without marriage cannot be construed as an offence. “When two adult people want to live together what is the offence. Does it amount to an offence ? Living together is not an offence. It cannot be an offence,” a three judge bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Deepak Verma and B S Chauhan observed.
The court said even Lord Krishna and Radha lived together according to mythology. The apex court said there was no law which prohibits live-in relationship or pre-marital sex, The Indian Express had reported.
The apex court made the observation while reserving its judgement on a special leave petition filed by Kushboo seeking to quash 22 criminal cases filed against her after she allegedly endorsed pre-marital sex in interviews to various magazines in 2005.
The judges grilled the counsel for some of the complainants in the case and repeatedly stressed that the perceived immoral activities cannot be branded as offence.
The argument of the counsel was that her comments allegedly endorsing pre-marital sex would adversely affect the minds of young people leading to decay in moral values and country’s ethos.
“Please tell us what is the offence and under which section. Living together is a right to life,” the apex court said apparently referring to Article 21 which granted right to life and liberty as a Fundamental Right.
The apex court further said the views expressed by Kushboo were personal. “How does it concern you. We are not bothered. At the most it is a personal view. How is it an offence? Under which provision of the law ?” the bench asked the counsel.
The apex court further asked the complainants to produce evidence to show if any girls eloped from their homes after the said interview. “How many homes have been affected can you tell us,” the Bench asked while enquiring whether the complainants had daughters. When the response was in the negative, they shot back, “Then, how are you adversely affected ?”
Kushboo had approached the apex court after the Madrash High Court in 2008 dismissed her plea for quashing the criminal cases filed against her through ought Tamil Nadu.
The cases were registered in various places in Tamil Nadu for her interviews in 2005. Kushboo, once venerated as a goddess in Tamil Nadu for her roles in Tamil cinema in the 1990s, had kicked up a row by saying that pre-marital sex was fine “provided safety measures are followed to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases”. She went on to say that “no educated man would expect his wife to be a virgin”.
The remarks sparked a storm in Tamil Nadu. The Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) hauled her over the coals and filed a slew of cases in various courts throughout Tamil Nadu. The actor also had to face a series of protests and footwear and eggs were hurled at her when she appeared before a Magistrate.
The DPI had gone to the extent of saying that “Kushboo made the remarks on pre-marital sex to justify her own life’s experience. She had no right to talk of the chastity of Tamil women.” He went on to note, “It is not correct to advocate free sex. Marriages are based purely on trust. Both partners have to be faithful to each other if the marriage is to work…It is important to protect the institution of marriage.”
Earlier, the Supreme Court had opined that a man and woman living together without marriage cannot be construed as an offence. “When two adult people want to live together what is the offence. Does it amount to an offence ? Living together is not an offence. It cannot be an offence,” a three judge bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Deepak Verma and B S Chauhan observed.
The court said even Lord Krishna and Radha lived together according to mythology. The apex court said there was no law which prohibits live-in relationship or pre-marital sex, The Indian Express had reported.
The apex court made the observation while reserving its judgement on a special leave petition filed by Kushboo seeking to quash 22 criminal cases filed against her after she allegedly endorsed pre-marital sex in interviews to various magazines in 2005.
The judges grilled the counsel for some of the complainants in the case and repeatedly stressed that the perceived immoral activities cannot be branded as offence.
The argument of the counsel was that her comments allegedly endorsing pre-marital sex would adversely affect the minds of young people leading to decay in moral values and country’s ethos.
“Please tell us what is the offence and under which section. Living together is a right to life,” the apex court said apparently referring to Article 21 which granted right to life and liberty as a Fundamental Right.
The apex court further said the views expressed by Kushboo were personal. “How does it concern you. We are not bothered. At the most it is a personal view. How is it an offence? Under which provision of the law ?” the bench asked the counsel.
The apex court further asked the complainants to produce evidence to show if any girls eloped from their homes after the said interview. “How many homes have been affected can you tell us,” the Bench asked while enquiring whether the complainants had daughters. When the response was in the negative, they shot back, “Then, how are you adversely affected ?”
Kushboo had approached the apex court after the Madrash High Court in 2008 dismissed her plea for quashing the criminal cases filed against her through ought Tamil Nadu.
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