Pranayam

PRANAYAMA - To Improve Memory Power

Regular practice of pranayama along with asana is helpful for all round development and improvement of the memory power.

Bhastrika, Kapalbhati and Brahmari Pranayama are the best for this. They improve the memory power and cure forgetfulness. Please note that the descriptions below are summaries. Please look up the articles on the specific pranayama for detailed instructions.

KAPALBHATI PRANAYAMA
This pranayama supplies pure life energy to the brain. It increases the blood circulation in the brain and removes blood clots thereby improving the memory power. Other than this, the toxic and foreign substances from the body are evacuated. It cures cold catarrh, sinusitis, allergy, tension and other diseases. It is very useful in cases of phlegm, skin disease, asthma, heart disease, high and low blood pressure, depression, tiredness, laziness, sleeplessness, migraine, joint pain, etc. Obesity, diabetes, constipation, indigestion, gastric problem, disinterest and other disease are cured and it gives vitality. As a result the whole body becomes healthy and disease free.

Method & Video:
Be seated in a comfortable posture. Padmasana (crossed leg) and Vajrasana are the ideal yoga postures to practice pranayama. Place your hands on your knees. Feel relaxed. Focus on your breathing pattern.

Take a deep breath in and then release the breath out. Now inhale slowly and exhale with a great force. Your abdominal muscles should get expanded when you inhale and get contracted when you exhale.

The exhalations should be forceful. This exercise is similar to that of blowing your nose. The process of inhalation and exhalation should be constant. Make sure that while exhaling, you are throwing the air out from the lungs with full force.

Do not take much effort while inhaling the air. Complete the procedure of Kapalbhati pranayama by deep inhalation and exhalation.

You have successfully completed one round of Kapalbhati pranayama. A learner can do 3 rounds of Kapalbhati pranayama by doing 15 exhalations in each round. Take small breaks between each round. You can increase the number of exhalations and rounds of pranayama as per your convenience.

BHASTRIKA PRANAYAM
Health improves when the brain gets pure life energy. The prana and mind become stable, nervous weakness is cured and memory power improves. It cures the tridosha (vata, pitta, kapha) and problems arising from brain. This cures forgetfulness. It improves appetite. It is beneficial in case of low blood pressure, depression, sleeplessness, knee pain, cold catarrh, headache, diabetes, obesity, loss of appetite and asthma.

It cures thyroid and tonsils and other throat related diseases. It strengthens the heart and lungs. It is helpful in case of arousal of kundalini and prana.

Method & Video:
Sit in Padmasana. Inhale with full strength and exhale from both the nostrils as strongly as you can. Repeat inhaling and exhaling. Rest when you are tired or exhale completely after practicing this for 30-40 times.

Now place the hand near the nose and close the left nostril. Breathe from right nostril. Breathe in as much as you can, put Jalandhar Bandh followed by Moolbandh. Stop the breathe for some time. Remove the bandh and exhale from left nostril. This is one cycle of Bhastrika Pranayam. Repeat two to three times.

Caution:
Do not shake the body while inhaling and exhaling. Do not practice it in case of high blood pressure, piles, acidity of perspiration due to heat.

BRAHMARI PRANAYAMA

It cures brain generated problems, tension, worries, anger, sleeplessness, depression and other problems and improves the memory power. It cures anxiety and is useful in case of restlessness, high blood pressure, heart disease etc.

It cures diabetes, obesity, asthma, nervous weakness, and improve the memory power.

It is beneficial in case of gynecological diseases. It cures vata, pitta, kapha and other problems. It is also beneficial in case of headache, cold catarrh, etc.

Method & Video:
Sit in Padmasana and exhale from the nostrils slowly. Then inhale slowly. Inhale as much as you can and while exhaling produce a nasal sound. As if you are trying to produce the ma sound while chanting Om or like the honeybee whirling around the flowers. Produce this sound and exhale. Try to make this sound as sweet as possible. Close the ears with the thumbs in order to block the external noises and keep the fingers on the forehead. Inhale and exhale and produce the sound. Repeat this exercise for five minutes.

Caution:
Do not shake the body while inhaling and exhaling. Do not practice it in case of high blood pressure, piles, acidity or perspiration due to heat.

Yoga to Strengthen Lungs

Healthy and strong lungs are important for a sharper intellect as they supply oxygen to the brain. Here are the details of a few asanas that can keep lungs in the pink of health

Healthy lungs are the secret to a sharper intellect. A research at Harvard University found that healthy lungs in children increase their memory, learning ability and intelligence. This is because when the lungs are large and healthy, only then can they hold adequate air to fulfil the oxygen demand of the trillions of body cells. Yoga is very effective in improving the health of the lungs. Dynamic asanas incorporate deep breathing which strengthen this organ. And of all the techniques; abdominal breathing needs a special mention. This exercise strengthens not only the lungs but also the diaphragm ­ a very important part of our respiratory system. This organ makes breathing possible with its constant up and down movement. Unexercised diaphragm becomes slack, leading to incomplete breathing and poor health. Abdominal breathing can be done any time in any position and for as long as one wants. But before doing it one should learn shavasana.

Technique

Lie down on your back with your hands a little away from the body. Inhale slowly and fill up the lower part of the lungs (With this action, the abdomen should rise)
1) Inhale more to fill up the mid portion of the lungs, which will make the chest expand.
2) Still inhale to fill up the entire lungs. (This action will lead to the lifting of the shoulder)
3) Hold the breath for a few seconds
4) Exhaling, release first from the chest and then from the stomach.
5) Make an effort to exhale as much as possible so that the stale air is completely thrown out of the lungs.

Though yoga helps at any age, it should be practiced from early childhood to ensure best results and perfect growth of the lung as the number of alveoli or air sacs of the lungs grows only till the age of eight.

Courtesy: Times Wellness . com

Note: You must always exercise these asanas, by keeping your basic health in check; Incase your health practitioner has warned you not to do any exercise / asana, you must always abide by the same. We would not be responsible for any physical injury caused due to your not following your doctor's advise.

What is Pranayama?

Pranayama is an art of controlling your breath to bring back or regain your body energy. Breathing or breath is the most important and vital function of life. Pranayama ensures maximum supply of oxygen to your body (brain & blood).

Pranayama helps to regain the lost vigour & energy in the body, as we concentrate on our breath which aids in better oxygen supply to the mind & body.

Courtesy: ABC of Yoga

Note: You must always exercise these asanas, by keeping your basic health in check; Incase your health practitioner has warned you not to do any exercise / asana, you must always abide by the same. We would not be responsible for any physical injury caused due to your not following your doctor's advise.