Types of Pranayama and Their Benefits – 2

Hello lovely ladies! Last time, we talked about some types of Pranayama. Did anybody start working on that? If you’re still not convinced that our ancient Gurus were much more intelligent than we give them credit for, I bring you, Part II of the Pranayama Chronicles!! :)… In this article, we will look at some other types of pranayama and their benefits. I’m pretty sure you would want to do at least some of these exercises after going through the below.

The word Sheetkari or Sheetali means “cooling down”. As the name suggests, this pranayama is used to bring down the temperature of the body. It affects our endocrine glands and nervous system too. The overall appearance of a person practicing this pranayama regularly, improves. They start looking younger and are filled with unbound energy. Along with the body, it also helps calming down the mind. Benefits of Sheetali Pranayama include

• Useful in curing tongue, mouth and throat problems.
• Helpful during fever and indigestion.
• Controls high blood pressure.
• Purifies blood.
• Helpful in curing spleen problems.
• Brings down body temperature effectively and quickly.
• Helpful in calming the mind.
• Effective stress buster.
• Cures insomnia.
• Reduces acidity

Bhastrika in Sanskrit means breathing like a bellows. In Bhastrika Pranayama, our lungs are moved in a motion that is similar to the movement of a bellows. Hence the Bhastrika Pranayama is known as bellows breath. While in kapalbhati, breath is forcefully exhaled, in bhastrika, breath is forcefully inhaled as well as exhaled. This is a very strong and energetic Pranayama form. The benefits of Bhastrika Pranayama are

• Strengthens lungs.
• Heats the body.
• Helps in curing allergies, asthma, respiratory disorders, throat problems and thyroid imbalances.
• Effective in curing tonsils.
• Calms the mind.
• Develops immune system.
• Cures common cold.
• Beneficial for people having low blood pressure.

​Surya Bhedana Pranayama or breathing through the right nostril, is an important part of Pranayama Yoga. In yoga terms, our right nostril or right nadi is called “Surya Nadi” or Pingala nadi. The right nostril is the way of the vitality of the sun can be harnessed in our body and can be used for physically stimulating it. The air entering through the right nadi can impact all the energies in the body and concentrate them near the navel, which is believed to be the place of the sun within our body. Benefits of Surya Bhedana Pranayama are
o   Activates bodily functions.
o   Increases digestive fire.
o   Increases oxygen level in blood.
o   Clears frontal sinuses.
o   Creates energy.
o   Destroys intestinal worms.
o   Creates heat, so beneficial in winters.
o   Increases appetite.
o   Good for people having low blood pressure.
Cures cold, cough, asthma and other respiratory problems.

The left nostril, also known as the ida nadi, is the means of harnessing the energy of the moon (Chandra Nadi). Moon is the symbol of coolness, so this pranayama technique helps cool our body. The location of the moon within our body is inside the skull, specifically between the eyebrows. Our nostrils are large nadis that balance the magnetism and energy of the sun and moon within our body. Benefits of Chandra Bhedana Pranayama are

• Reduces body heat.
• Useful in fever.
• Reduces high blood pressure.
• Calms the mind.
• Regulates functioning of the gall bladder.
• Reduces heartburn.
• Refreshes mind and body.
• Reduces stress and tension.

The Earth and other bodies of the solar system have been seen to be emitting a constant buzzing sound that resonates with “Om”. Udgeeth Pranayama is a method to chant “Om” and connect yourself with the Earth’s rhythm. Ancient sages practiced this for hours on end to get the energy of the solar system within themselves. It is one of the easiest forms of Pranayama. However, it has many benefits like

• Calms the mind.
• Cures hypertension.
• Relieves anger, stress and tension.
• Good for meditation.
• Cures insomnia.
• Controls high blood pressure.
• Improves nervous system.
• Increases memory power.

​Pranav Pranayama is the easiest among all the Pranayamas. It is the method to say the word “Om” as “Om” is sacred syllable from which universe was created and which is continuously resonating all around us. Benefits of Pranav Pranayama are

• Controls high blood pressure.
• Cures hypertension.
• Cures insomnia.
• Excellent breathing exercise.
• Cures paralysis and migraine.
• Even pregnant women can practice this and benefit from it.

​Ancient Indian culture is so beneficial even in today’s day and age. Instead of joining expensive gyms, if we just practice these Pranayamas, we can benefit greatly, don’t you think?
Please comment below and let us know if you have practiced any of these and how you gained from it.