One way of centring the mind in meditation is through breath control. The yogis of ancient India noted an intimate connection between breath and thought. They observed that when the breath became erratic, the mind did as well; when the breath settled, the mind relaxed. This did not require an amazing leap of inference. Any stress management counsellor will tell you that deep and rhythmic breathing induces a relaxation response in the mind and body.
The yogis further remarked that when the breath stopped, the mind reached a certain level of focus. One can relate this fact to everyday experiences as well. When you concentrate intensely on a task, the breath seems to stop or becomes shallow. When you stop concentrating, the breath continues normally. The yogis understood the implications of this for the process of meditation. They called their specialised science of breath control ‘pranayama.’ As the name implies, ‘pranayama’ relates to ‘prana,’ which is the life force. Prana is present in the air we breathe, but it is a much finer medium than air. Depending on the efficiency of our breathing, a maximum amount of prana can be drawn from the atmosphere. The best way to absorb prana is through the nostrils, which are specialised for this purpose. Mouth breathing is a much less efficient way to absorb vital energy.
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Denne historien er fra September 2021-utgaven av Life Positive.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Miracles of Mount Maunganui
A hike to Mount Maunganui in New Zealand filled Rashi Bunny with a sense of awe and wonder equivalent to witnessing the glory of the Divine Himself
Navigating Your 20s: A Simple Guide
By embracing the tumultuous journey through her 20s, Abhilasha Srivastava learnt to triumph over the challenges encountered and carve the path for her future
Inducing Sweet Slumber
As we are well aware, lack of sound sleep can give rise to physical and mental problems. To ensure a good night's rest, you could follow the suggestions given by Jamuna Rangachari in the next few pages
Days for the Divine
Guided by her mentor Megha Bajaj, Meghana Acharya sends positive vibes into the Universe to ensure the well-being and success of others
Voices from the beyond
Near-Death Experiences (NDES) have long fascinated humanity-a glimpse beyond the veil, a sneak peek into the unknown that pulsates with wonders, mysteries and intrigue. Jamuna Rangachari takes us through the narrations of a few who went to the other side and returned to share in great detail what they experienced and how it transformed them
All for the best
An academic disaster turned opportunity led Rajeev Hallur to understand the jigsaw puzzle of life, initially incomprehensible to most of us
Many Lives, One Master
Dr Bijal Maroo probes into the enigmatic charisma of Swami Omkaranandaji to discover the story behind his uncanny healing powers
Modern art with a tribal touch
Gautam Bharati and Avani Jain, based in Dungarpur, Rajasthan saw the incredible ability and passion of tribals for arts and decided to do something about it.
Laugh your way to health
Rupa Bannur, a former IT professional turned holistic health coach from Bangalore began turning to laughter yoga in 2001 after she faced profound loss of precious family members.
Healing Hands
When Rupesh Budh Ahmedabad from was 15 years of age, he learnt meditation from his martial arts (Karate) teacher. His teacher also introduced him to Reiki as a healing modality that can cure with just a touch. He told him that advanced Reiki practitioners can cure even from a distance without touching.