Pranayama – an Effective Yoga Technique for Blood Purification

Pranayama is one of the effective forms which is practiced in yoga particularly for improving the circulation of blood and for blood purification. This technique is especially beneficial for the people whose job include sitting for longer durations. Due to continuous sitting the blood tends to accumulate at the lower parts of the body and makes it difficult to venous return. This results in the accumulation of impure blood which failed to return to the heart in legs and feet, which leads to serious health problems like veracious veins or spider veins. Since pranayama improves the circulation as well as helps in purifying the blood it is an effective medicine for such kind of problems.

The technique of pranayama involves taking of deep breath by following particular procedure of closing and opening of nostrils at regular intervals. Practicing pranayama regularly by gradually increasing the time spent each day for doing this yogic technique prevents all kinds of respiratory disorders and lung related problems.

Doing pranayama under the expert guidance and a clean, peaceful and tidy environment which is free from pollution and has lots of fresh air shows greater impact than practicing at home. Taking deep breaths in fresh air helps the body in taking more air full of oxygen. This oxygen present in the blood thoroughly cleanses and purifies the blood, calms the mind, soothes anxiety and stress, improves circulations and promotes clear thinking.

Blood flowing in the arteries and veins through out the body will get purified with the increased levels of oxygen in the blood. This helps in the continuous flow of the blood through all the tissues in the body, prevents accumulation of waste blood in the lower parts of the body and finally makes the person healthy. Regular practice of pranayama under the guidance of an expert trainer helps in the better understanding of the concept and is a greater way of practice.

Things to be Considered for a Perfect Yoga Practice

Consistent yoga practice is quite essential to get better results in a short period of time. Moreover there are certain factors which should be considered to make the yoga practice even more fruitful and efficient. Following are the things which might be helpful to make the yoga practice in a better way.

Choosing proper place and time: Different conditions of the place which one chooses to perform yoga affects the practice in one or more ways. Since yoga practice involves meditation and various breathing techniques there are certain things in the environment which should be taken care of. The place can either be an indoor or an outdoor. But it should be free from dust, dirt and any other factors which disturb the practice. The air in the place should be clear and fresh and it is better if it is heavy with oxygen. Only fresh air between the woods or the tress will have this quality. Secondly, that place should be free from any sounds and pollution so that we can concentrate more during meditation. If it is indoors make sure that the room is properly ventilated and the indoor air quality is good. And finally the time, is often advisable to practice yoga either at early hours or at evening times depending upon our convenience.

Comfortable Clothing: Clothing also affects the quality of practice since yoga involves physical activity. It should be more of comfort and less of style. One should feel free to make any postures and should not feel conscious about their appearance while performing different poses and postures. Cotton clothing is always advisable as they are comfortable and have high absorbing capacity than any other fabric. The dress should be loose enough to make the necessary moments.

Yoga tools: Yoga tools are the different materials that promote and help the people while practicing yoga. Various products are available in the market which support the people to perform yoga in a perfect way. Of them the basic tool used for practicing yoga is the yoga mat. Yoga should not be done on floor directly. It is better to do it on grass, rugs, mats or any cloth. The mat offers enough grip to do the required poses, absence of which may result in slipping and failing to do the needful. Besides this there are few many things which are necessary depending upon the style of yoga like the yoga straps, blocks, bricks, yoga balls, bolsters, wedges and so on which provide support for doing different postures. 

Insomnia Can be Treated Using Yoga

Sleep is essential for every human being to get recharged for the next day. It is important to perform our day to day activities in a better manner by having a sound sleep. Some people fall in to the sleep the moment they rest their head on the pillow. But for some, it is very difficult to get sleep. This sleeping disorder is termed as insomnia.

Whenever our mind becomes calm and quiet and whenever we don't have any thing to think we will naturally fall asleep. Finding difficulty to sleep means there is some problem related to the mind. Since yoga can help to calm and quiet the mind it can effectively cure the problem of insomnia. The postures of yoga increase the blood circulation to the brain which helps in normalizing the sleep cycle.

The breathing techniques involved in yoga allows more oxygen in the body providing clarity to the mind. Practicing yoga regularly helps in making the mind more relaxed. So that you feel like taking less sleep. For every minute you spend in yoga you will need one minute less sleep. This makes yoga an excellent time saver.

Certain things should be followed to get the best out of yoga for getting a better sleep.

• Every day you have to make sure to do some or the other physical activity using yoga.
• Learn a relaxation technique which involves yoga. Try to do it in the evening or before going to bed.
• Don't carry your worries and pressures to your bed. Leave them out and then lie on your bed peacefully.
• Take a warm bath with some aromatic oils which enhance your sleep.
• Be sure that the surroundings are quiet and are free from dust and clutter.

If you follow regular yoga exercises and maintain above things perfectly you can treat insomnia by yourself.

Five Principles Associated with Practice of Yoga

Yoga is best way to get relief, both physically and psychologically. The yoga practice is associated with the five basic principles.

Proper breathing: Proper breathing is vital in yoga practice. This is also called as pranayama. Breathing is vital in practice of yoga postures. Proper breathing means breathing fully and rhythmically, making use of all the parts of your lungs to increase oxygen intake or absorption. Proper breathing must be deep, slow, and rhythmical. To achieve this you need to regulate length and duration of your inhalation, exhalation, and retention of air in your lungs and pauses between breaths. The proper breathing practice can teach you how you can recharge your body and control your mind states by regulating breathing. The ability to control your breathing signifies that you have full control over your mind state. This can help you to get clam and more focused mind.

Proper exercise: This is important in yoga practice. This can be achieved by yoga postures or asanas, which systematically works on all parts of the body. Stretching and toning the muscles and ligaments enhance the flexibility of the spine and the joints. It improves the blood circulation. The yoga postures are designed to regulate the physical and psychologically functions of the body.

Proper diet: Maintaining a proper diet is essential for practicing yoga.
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Proper relaxation: Relaxation is the basic thing to get more out of yoga. A proper relaxation gives you to have a calm and peace mind. Before you are going to do yoga, you should get freed from all your stress.

Proper meditation: This is the most important thing in practicing yoga. Proper meditation is only possible when you follow all the above principles. Meditation gives more relief than physical exercise.

The above are the five principles, which should be adapted before doing yoga.

Know About the Physical Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a word of Sanskrit language that means union. It is a practice which uses posture and breathing techniques inducing relaxation and improving strength. Different types of yoga help in giving physical, mental, and spiritual benefits for individuals. Let us know about the physical benefits of yoga.

Flexibility:
The body becomes more flexible by stretching it in new ways. A greater range of motion to muscles and joints is brought through stretching. A gain in flexibility in hamstrings, back, shoulders, and hips can be expected through yoga.

Strength:
Support of the weight of the body by themselves is done by many yoga poses. This may include balancing on one leg or supporting with arms. Movement of oneself slowly in and out of poses through yoga may increase strength.

Muscle Tone:
As the strength of the body increases, muscle tone is also increased. Shape of long and lean muscles can be maintained by yoga.

Pain Prevention:
With increase in flexibility and strength of the body, several causes of some types of pain can be prevented. Tightness and spinal compression may be caused in people who spend a lot of time sitting at a computer or driving a car. The alignment of body can be improved through yoga, in and out of the class, preventing many types of pain.

Better Breathing:
Focus on the attention of breathing is given through yoga breathing exercises called as Pranayama. Nasal passages can be cleared and the central nervous system gets calmed due to yoga breathing exercises. This helps in bringing physical and mental benefits.

Yoga can be taught at many institutions. Yoga teacher training and yoga certification has gained a lot of importance these days.

Why Athletes Might Benefit From Yoga

Athletes mainly enjoy the stress relief and deep relaxation benefits from yoga. The five fascinating reasons for athletes to practice yoga are:

• To increase flexibility and range of motion: Regular yoga practice helps in making the spine more flexible and muscles more stretchable (bendable). These things are very essential for all athletes. It improves flexibility, strengthens and lengthens the complete body, improves range of motion, and loosens the joints.
• To improve your ability to focus yoga: Many yoga poses help in building the core strength. The poses in combination with movements are an excellent method of resistance training which benefits all athletes.
• To Improve your ability to focus: Yoga enhances focus and mental clarity.
• To correct imbalances in the body caused by training: Generally training will be repetitive in nature, and sometimes can create imbalances. Also few muscle groups are strengthened, but others are not. Yoga helps in resolving these imbalances during training.
• To alleviate chronic aches and pains which are generally associated with regular training: Yoga helps in having less pain and more liveliness and mobility, which enables a person to react more effectively.

All About Pranayama

Yoga science of breathing is known as pranayama. Oxygen is the very essential nutrient to body. It is important for the stability and proper functioning of the brain, nerves, glands and internal organs.

Pranayama techniques are better practiced sitting on the ground on a folded blanket. This should be in a posture, which requires back to be kept straight from the base of the spine to the neck and perpendicular to the floor. Bad and poorly implemented posture can lead to shallow (not deep) breathing and low endurance (resistance). Before practicing pranayama, one should clear the bladder and bowels.

Pranayama yoga should be practiced in empty stomach. The preferable time for practice is in the early morning, before sunrise when the pollution is at its minimum level, and the body and brain must be free (comfortable). However, if morning is incompatible, pranayama can be done after sunset, when the air is cool and pleasant. The appropriate place for all types of Yoga should be clean and calm.