Re : SUKHA PURVAKA PRANAYAMA / Getting inspired by our Animal friends

[Guest guest]

Hello everybody !!!Thanks to Ananda for this nice reflexion which may further inspire us in dialogue with our animal friends ;-).I found three beautiful little videos on YouTube which are especially refreshing in the hot summertime.The first is a poetic swim of elephants ... who definitely seem to perform kumbhaka. It is a really nice video showing us elephants in a different light ;-) :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWt_0lXvd8g & fmt=18Well, I don't know how long elephants can hold

their breath, but hippos apparently can for around 6 minutes ... and they seem to love it. They seem to have their own technique of "cooling pranayama" ;-) as you can see here :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1xbGw-MG7I & fmt=18And here comes a real amazing one (I didn't check for whales and dolphins) : the grey seal. Not only can he hold his breath for over an hour, but actually he even does it with shunyaka as for diving it is easier for him to empty his lungs because of the bouoncy :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYkiRbgiwx0 & feature=related & fmt=18The clip actually explains a little about the bodymechanics that allow him to do so.Plenty of good inspirations to all of you !!!Christoph--- En date de : Dim 21.6.09, Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Bhavanani <yognat a écrit :De: Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Bhavanani <yognatObjet: SUKHA PURVAKA PRANAYAMAÀ: Date: Dimanche 21 Juin 2009, 6h25

 

 

SUKHA PURVAKA

PRANAYAMA

On my recent tour

‘down under’ I was stimulated into thought by a statement of Sri Bala that

police in the USA

were using Pranayamas as part of their training to reduce adrenaline overload

during pursuits. After some further research on the topic I discovered that

they were using something called ‘combat breathing’ to help lower adrenaline

levels. During pursuit, intensity of the situation causes a surge in adrenaline

level leading to the decrease in fine and complex motor skills. Short term

memory that is part of the creative and reasoning part of the brain can be

severely hindered, leaving an officer with nothing more than long term memory

and primal, emotional instincts to operate with. I was pleasantly surprised to

see that the technique of ‘combat breathing’ that was attributed to the Chinese

martial arts tradition was actually the Sukha Purvaka Pranayama of our ancient

Yoga tradition.

Sukha Purvaka

(Poorvaka) Pranayama is one of the important Pranayamas in the Gitananda

tradition of Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga. It has been described by Swamiji as a

necessary and fundamental part of any Pranayama training. Sukha means pleasant

or comfortable and Purvaka refers to the fact that this needs to be completed prior

to other practices.

Sukha Purvaka

has three initial parts that are then brought together in the fourth part that

is the Sukha Purvaka itself. The ratio used in all the four parts is of an

equal count of 4, 6, 8 etc depending on the student / patient’s capacity. It is

important to remember that we must always start with counts that are in tune

with present capabilities of the student / patient and then gradually work up

as they improve through practice. Teachings should always be from known to the

unknown and from present to the future!

The first

part of the Sukha Purvaka quartet is known by different names. It is called Sama

Vritti or Shwasa Prashwasa or Gita Pranayama but is more commonly known by as Sukha

pranayama for it is a comfortable process of breathing in (Puraka) and out (Rechaka)

for an equal number of counts. This may be either a count of 4, 6 or 8

depending on the person’s capacity. This is usually quite easily performed by

most students / patients and helps calm down the mind and develop inner

awareness. It is a useful practice for breath observation in Prana Darshana

(reverential witnessing) techniques. The best posture for any Pranayama Sadhana

is the Vajra Asana as it allows the maximum movement of the diaphragm with the

spine at its straightest and most stable position enabling us to breathe at our

maximum capacity.

The second and

third parts are known as Visama Vritti Pranayamas and consist of the Loma and

Viloma Pranayamas. The Loma Pranayama is performed by breathing in for a 4, 6,

or 8 count, holding in the breath (Antara Kumbhaka) for an equal count and then

breathing out for the same count before repeating the whole cycle. The Viloma Pranayama

is performed by breathing in for a 4, 6, or 8 count, breathing out for the same

count and then holding out the breath (Bahira Kumbhaka or Shunyaka) for an

equal count before repeating the whole cycle. Loma pranayama is also known as

converse breathing while Viloma pranayama is called inverse breathing.

It is

important to note that the process of holding the breath (Kumbhaka) goes

against our primitive ‘billions of years old’ animal conditioning and helps us

to gain conscious control over our breathing mechanism. Animals fear the

holding hold of the breath as they are afraid of dying, but as humans we know

that we can hold our breath safely and this gesture of opening up to our higher

nature helps conscious control of respiration to occur. Technically speaking we

can never die by holding our breath! Yoga is the science of consciousness and

this is why the phase of holding the breath (Kumbhaka) has been given so much

importance in yoga literature and the Pranayamas are referred to in classical

literature as Kumbhaka.

The final

phase where the previous three parts are brought together is known as Sukha

Purvaka Pranayama. This is a four part breath where we inhale, hold in the

breath, exhale and then hold out the breath. 

As it unites all four phases of Pranayama namely, Puraka, Kumbhaka,

Rechaka and Shunyaka it is also called the Yoga Pranayama. A 4, 6, or 8 count

is used to breathe in, hold in, breathe out and hold out the breath. This

Pranayama reduces respiratory frequency from 15 - 20 respirations per minute to

3- 4 respirations per minute. This brings about a decrease in other vital

parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure and body metabolism that are intrinsically

related to respiratory frequency. The body temperature is lowered and a calm

and quiet state of mind results from decreased sympatho-adrenergic discharge.

Areas of the lungs that are normally not being used in our day-to-day ‘tidal

volume’ life are opened up creating health and well being at all levels of our

existence.

 

-- Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi BhavananiChairmanICYER and Yoganjali Natyalayam25, 2nd Cross, Iyyanar NagarPondicherry, South Indiawww.icyer.com

www.geocities. com/yognat2001------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --DISCLAIMER : Information transmitted in this e-mail is proprietary to Ananda Ashram at ICYER, Pondicherry, South India. It is intended only for the addressee and may contain private, confidential and/or privileged material. Review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by any person other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. Please be aware that this email may have been a group mailing (bcc) and if you received this through error we apologize. If you have received this communication in error, please contact us at yognat (AT) gmail (DOT) com and delete the material from any stored format/computer.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Christoph for this most fascinating, interesting and

instructive clips.

Dr Ananda is a true trail blazer!

Love,

Sri Bala

 

 

 

 

On Behalf Of Christoph Eberhard

Sunday, 21 June 2009 10:57 PM

 

Re : SUKHA PURVAKA PRANAYAMA / Getting inspired

by our Animal friends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello everybody !!!

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Ananda for this nice reflexion which may further

inspire us in dialogue with our animal friends ;-).

 

 

 

 

 

I found three beautiful little videos on YouTube which are

especially refreshing in the hot summertime.

 

 

 

 

 

The first is a poetic swim of elephants ... who definitely

seem to perform kumbhaka. It is a really nice video showing us elephants in a

different light ;-) :

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWt_0lXvd8g & fmt=18

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I don't know how long elephants

can hold their breath, but hippos apparently can for around 6 minutes ... and

they seem to love it. They seem to have their own technique of " cooling

pranayama " ;-) as you can see here :

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1xbGw-MG7I & fmt=18

 

 

 

 

 

And here comes a real amazing one (I

didn't check for whales and dolphins) : the grey seal. Not only can he hold

his breath for over an hour, but actually he even does it with shunyaka as

for diving it is easier for him to empty his lungs because of the bouoncy :

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYkiRbgiwx0 & feature=related & fmt=18

 

 

 

 

 

The clip actually explains a little

about the bodymechanics that allow him to do so.

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty of good inspirations to all of

you !!!

 

 

 

 

 

Christoph

 

 

 

 

 

--- En date de : Dim 21.6.09, Yogacharya Dr.Ananda

Bhavanani <yognat a écrit :

 

De: Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Bhavanani <yognat

Objet: SUKHA PURVAKA PRANAYAMA

À:

Dimanche 21 Juin 2009, 6h25

 

 

SUKHA PURVAKA PRANAYAMA

On my recent tour ‘down under’ I was stimulated into

thought by a statement of Sri Bala that police in the USA were using

Pranayamas as part of their training to reduce adrenaline overload during

pursuits. After some further research on the topic I discovered that they

were using something called ‘combat breathing’ to help lower adrenaline

levels. During pursuit, intensity of the situation causes a surge in

adrenaline level leading to the decrease in fine and complex motor skills.

Short term memory that is part of the creative and reasoning part of the

brain can be severely hindered, leaving an officer with nothing more than

long term memory and primal, emotional instincts to operate with. I was

pleasantly surprised to see that the technique of ‘combat breathing’ that was

attributed to the Chinese martial arts tradition was actually the Sukha

Purvaka Pranayama of our ancient Yoga tradition.

Sukha Purvaka (Poorvaka) Pranayama is one of the

important Pranayamas in the Gitananda tradition of Rishiculture Ashtanga

Yoga. It has been described by Swamiji as a necessary and fundamental part of

any Pranayama training. Sukha means pleasant or comfortable and Purvaka

refers to the fact that this needs to be completed prior to other practices.

Sukha Purvaka has three initial parts that are then

brought together in the fourth part that is the Sukha Purvaka itself. The

ratio used in all the four parts is of an equal count of 4, 6, 8 etc

depending on the student / patient’s capacity. It is important to remember that

we must always start with counts that are in tune with present capabilities

of the student / patient and then gradually work up as they improve through

practice. Teachings should always be from known to the unknown and from

present to the future!

The first part of the Sukha Purvaka quartet is known by

different names. It is called Sama Vritti or Shwasa Prashwasa or Gita

Pranayama but is more commonly known by as Sukha pranayama for it is a

comfortable process of breathing in (Puraka) and out (Rechaka) for an equal

number of counts. This may be either a count of 4, 6 or 8 depending on the

person’s capacity. This is usually quite easily performed by most students /

patients and helps calm down the mind and develop inner awareness. It is a

useful practice for breath observation in Prana Darshana (reverential

witnessing) techniques. The best posture for any Pranayama Sadhana is the

Vajra Asana as it allows the maximum movement of the diaphragm with the spine

at its straightest and most stable position enabling us to breathe at our

maximum capacity.

The second and third parts are known as Visama Vritti

Pranayamas and consist of the Loma and Viloma Pranayamas. The Loma Pranayama

is performed by breathing in for a 4, 6, or 8 count, holding in the breath

(Antara Kumbhaka) for an equal count and then breathing out for the same

count before repeating the whole cycle. The Viloma Pranayama is performed by

breathing in for a 4, 6, or 8 count, breathing out for the same count and

then holding out the breath (Bahira Kumbhaka or Shunyaka) for an equal count

before repeating the whole cycle. Loma pranayama is also known as converse

breathing while Viloma pranayama is called inverse breathing.

It is important to note that the process of holding the

breath (Kumbhaka) goes against our primitive ‘billions of years old’ animal

conditioning and helps us to gain conscious control over our breathing

mechanism. Animals fear the holding hold of the breath as they are afraid of

dying, but as humans we know that we can hold our breath safely and this

gesture of opening up to our higher nature helps conscious control of

respiration to occur. Technically speaking we can never die by holding our

breath! Yoga is the science of consciousness and this is why the phase of

holding the breath (Kumbhaka) has been given so much importance in yoga

literature and the Pranayamas are referred to in classical literature as

Kumbhaka.

The final phase where the previous three parts are

brought together is known as Sukha Purvaka Pranayama. This is a four part breath

where we inhale, hold in the breath, exhale and then hold out the

breath. As it unites all four phases of Pranayama namely, Puraka,

Kumbhaka, Rechaka and Shunyaka it is also called the Yoga Pranayama. A 4, 6,

or 8 count is used to breathe in, hold in, breathe out and hold out the

breath. This Pranayama reduces respiratory frequency from 15 - 20

respirations per minute to 3- 4 respirations per minute. This brings about a

decrease in other vital parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure and

body metabolism that are intrinsically related to respiratory frequency. The

body temperature is lowered and a calm and quiet state of mind results from

decreased sympatho-adrenergic discharge. Areas of the lungs that are normally

not being used in our day-to-day ‘tidal volume’ life are opened up creating

health and well being at all levels of our existence.

Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani

Chairman

ICYER and Yoganjali Natyalayam

25, 2nd Cross, Iyyanar Nagar

Pondicherry, South India

www.icyer.com

www.geocities.

com/yognat2001

 

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --

DISCLAIMER : Information transmitted in this e-mail is proprietary to Ananda

Ashram at ICYER, Pondicherry, South India. It is intended only for the

addressee and may contain private, confidential and/or privileged material.

Review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by any

person other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. Please be

aware that this email may have been a group mailing (bcc) and if you received

this through error we apologize. If you have received this communication in

error, please contact us at yognat (AT) gmail (DOT) com and delete the material from any stored

format/computer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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