by

Surabhi Khosla

Yoga & Pranayama…Cure for heart problems, blood pressure and sleeping disorders

Researchers the world over are concluding that Yoga and Pranayama go a long way in preventing the onset of dangerous diseases.

Swami Ramdev Maharaj - right breathing & right living

"Pranayama," says renowned Yoga guru Swami Ramdev Maharaj "is an ancient yogic breathing technique. It involves taking in deep breaths to regulate and direct one’s Praan Shakti. The discipline is based on the principle that there is a definite link between the body, mind and energy and that variation in any one can affect the other two." In literal terms, prana means vital energy and ayam is exercise.

Swami Ramdev Maharaj adds that Yoga and Pranayama work wonders for the human body, ridding it of all depressive energy and body tensions. "When one is going through a stressful situation, the physiology; the brain and the endocrine system, are influenced negatively. Breathing techniques of Pranayama and Sudarshan Kriya establish a positive body-mind relationship. Removal of negative thoughts and tensions leads to a positive and healthy physiology."

Swami Ramdev who is seen across many TV channels says the ancient science of

Pranayama, involves deep breathing to regulate and direct Praan Shakti. "It is a complete medical science. It decreases toxins, helps rich, oxygenated blood flow through the body and banishes negative energy." This explains why the popularity of Yoga has soared in the past few years. Researchers and practitioners testify to its healing values and many say it is the most effective way to deal with stress, obesity and chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and hypertension, something which allopathic medicine can just contain.

Suneel Singh, who teaches Yoga at Delhi’s Le Meridien Hotel, and will now be appearing on the newly launched Channel 7 agrees with the Swami. "Yoga and Pranayama have been known to cure heart problems, blood pressure and sleeping disorders. There are certain exercises that help banish diabetes as well."

Singh says that different programmes are prescribed for different people related to their body’s needs. "For all those who thought that the only road to fitness passed through the gym, here is an alternative. Pranayama acts like a wonder drug which makes one physically, mentally and spiritually stronger."

Singh expands on this theory by giving a simple example. Says he, "A turtle breathes three times in a minute and lives for two hundred years. Human beings breathe approximately sixteen times in a minute which Pranayama can help bring down to twelve times thus expanding life span." He feels that although Yoga these days comes in new avatars to suit the convenience of people in a hurry, a conventional course is still the best. "New forms have tried to transform this age-old discipline into a contemporary and concise format by attempting to capture its holistic essence. Yoga no longer means having to grow a beard and living in the Himalayas yet it is most effective in its traditional form."

Swami Ramdev agrees. "I don’t believe that traditional Yoga is difficult or time consuming. People under stress cannot simply be hurried into health by adapting Yoga to today’s fast-paced lifestyles. People first need to learn how to calm the mind and regain strength and this cannot be learnt through any shortcuts."

Both the gurus feel that Yoga is like a wonder drug. Apart from bringing peace to the soul it re-energizes the joints of the body and gives vigour to the skeletal system, body tissues and inner organs. In fact Swami Ramdev has taken up several research projects to study the comparative effects of allopathy, homeopathy and other healing forms to establish Yoga on scientific parameters.

The gurus of Yoga and the followers all feel that ancient and new yogic cures should be introduced in the curriculum of medical colleges. They claim that once doctors understand breathing techniques they will recommend them as antidotes rather than relying blindly on drugs. Also Yoga has no side effects. They insist that several doctors themselves practice the art of Yoga everyday and hence there is no doubt it is extremely beneficial.

In fact Swami Ramdev goes as far as to suggest that Yogic breathing exercises that prevent stress and tension should be done right before a session of the Parliament to bring serenity into the minds and hearts of those who govern the country. He also feels that the police force could be trained in the art of Pranayama to help reduce blood lactate levels which is a sign of a peaceful mind on high mental alert.

So are these breathing techniques the full and final answer to our stress induced health problems? "No exercise can guarantee complete cure. But certainly people who do these exercises regularly lead a healthier life with a better mental state leading to better physical health" says Singh.

The message of leading experts is clear. De-stress by making Yoga and Pranayama a part of your life. An hour of Yoga a day will definitely keep the doctor away.

There should be no gaps between breathing. Keep increasing the time according to your comfort.

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