What Is Pranayama? Is It Included in The Yoga Teacher Training Course? If not, why?

Pranayama is an age-old breathing technique, that is as old as yoga itself. It mainly involves controlling the breath and manipulating it for better benefits. In the past, many sages and seers practiced Pranayama as a way to generate and regulate prana throughout out the body. That is the reason probably, why they could stay fit and fine till the ripe old age of 100 and above, while fasting. In the present scenario, Pranayama has suddenly assumed a lot of importance. And, that is the sole reason, why you must know about it in complete detail.

Pranayama – A Detailed Guide

Pranayama is a very vast topic, that you will learn at the most renowned yoga school in Rishikesh.  To understand this vast topic, it is absolutely essential for you to study the background in detail. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is the text from which you can derive a lot of benefit in this respect. The book states eight limbs, which you have to adopt and conquer, and the same is also called the Ashtanga path. Pranayama is the fourth limb in this genre. If you can conquer your breath, you can also conquer your mind.

If you try to dissect the meaning of the word, ‘Pranayama’ for better understanding, you can do that as well. ‘Prana’ means breath, and ‘Ayama’ means expansion. So, the whole word translates to ‘expansion of your breath’. In the yogic discipline, you can regulate the flow of ‘Prana’ within your body, with the help of Pranayama. There are three phases in each Pranayama cycle, and they are Puraka, Rechaka, and Kumbhaka.

• Puraka is inhalation
• Rechaka is exhalation
• Kumbhaka is retention

Moreover, there are various types of Pranayama, that you can practice. They are:

• Nadi Shodhana – It is the most common type of Pranayama, which you can practice today. Most beginners also do well, with this variety. It is also quite popular as alternate nostril method of breathing. This pranayama is known to balance all the three doshas. If you want to purify the energy channels of the body, then this Pranayama is for you. It has often proven useful in numerous ways. Many people also got rid of addiction, through this type of Pranayama.
• Anulom Viloma – It is another type of pranayama that includes the action of alternate nostril breathing. However, you have to retain the breath, in between each inhalation and exhalation. There are two phases in Anuloma Viloma, and they are paused inhalation and paused exhalation. Research on this form of Pranayama has shown that it can relax the mind, and make you less anxious. So, if you are looking for stress reduction, you can practice this breathwork.
• Kapalbhati – It is also known as Skull shining pranayama. Some people also call it the breath of fire. It helps you to warm up, and is mostly practiced in the winter months. It involves deep inhalation and forceful exhalation. You will also learn to do this pranayama in the realm of Kundalini Yoga, which is another form of yoga.

Now, you may ask, if it is included in the Yoga teacher training, or not. Yes, Pranayama is an important part of yoga practice. Without pranayama, the very essence and benefits of the realm of yoga is lost.

Read More: Why Is Kundalini Yoga Dangerous? The Truth About Its Risks and Rewards

Pranayama – An Important Part Of Yoga Teacher Training Course – Why?

When you join the 200 hour yoga teacher training Rishikesh, you will learn about Pranayama and its benefits. Moreover, yoga is not just about splits, inversions, and headstands. Breath has a very important role to play in the realm of yoga. Yoga asanas are just a part of the entire discipline. In fact, it is just 10% od yoga. The remaining components of yoga are Pranayama, meditation, Satkarma kriyas, bandhas, mudras, and mantra chanting. All these make up a successful yoga practice.

To understand the concept of ‘Prana,’ at a much deeper level, you must understand the concept of nadis. These are the channels through which the ‘Prana’ flows. However, you may not be able to see them with the naked eyes. You can utilize the energy, only if you have prepared your body for it. Moreover, the physical yoga practice gives you the power to concentrate on your mind.

Pranayama is the force behind all existence. It has tremendous benefits on the mind, body, and your soul. If you want to understand it in detail, you have to make sure that you include it in your daily yoga practice. The yoga school in Rishikesh will prepare you for the same.

The various benefits associated with Pranayama that make it an important part of yoga TTC are-

• More than 1,000 research works have proven that yogic breathing is beneficial to all. Specific pranayama practices have specific effects in the body and mind. Pranayama has proved to be useful in reducing stress and anxiety. Slow varieties of Pranayama have calming effects on the human mind and body. Moreover, regular practice of the same along with controlled breathing, has made it irreplaceable.
• It also reduces fatigue and tiredness. In today’s competitive world, if you cannot keep pace with the others, you supposedly lose out. The after effects are hypertension and cardiac issues. Moreover, you may feel tired all the time. In such cases, pranayama has a very important role to play.
• If You suffer from respiratory issues, you can make Pranayama a part of your life. Both the slow and fast variants of breathworks have shown the best effects. Some research has also shown, that Pranayama can stabilize the health of Asthma patients and alleviated the symptoms as well.
• It also tends to improve mental focus and concentration in your day-to-day life. Moreover, you are trained to become more aware of your breath, while you practice such breathworks. Your mindfulness also increases and you eventually learn to focus more. It also boosts the health of the cerebral cortex and which play an important role in consciousness.
• You can also boost your immunity, with the help of Pranayama. In the realm of Pranayama, most respondents practice diaphragmatic breathing, which improves the functioning of the digestive system. When you practice deep pranayama, your body’s immunity gets a boost. If you are stressed, your body’s immunity goes down. When you practice Pranayama, you breath for longer than usual and in the process, more oxygen reaches the blood stream. It is also believed that the number of WBCs in the blood increases when you practice Pranayama. In that case, the body’s immunity automatically gets a boost.

You can join the school, Hari Om Yoga Vidya School to gain a complete and thorough understanding of the discipline. Yoga is not just about the physical body, but you have to go to a much deeper level to extract the best. Join the teacher training course in magical Rishikesh, to get the best guidance on the same. Rishikesh is one of the locations in the idyllic hilly region, where you can learn and sink yourself in the yogic sphere. The place also boasts of the most beautiful places like Rishi Vashishtha caves, Kunjapuri Temple, and The Beatles Ashram. You will love to practice yoga there.

The benefits of Pranayama are many, and that is why, it is an important part of the yoga teacher training Rishikesh.