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October 28, 2022 By GOQii 16 Comments

Pranayama: 6 Variations & Their Benefits

Pranayama and Its BenefitsPranayama is one of the most common Yoga Asanas that people perform because it is easy and provides numerous benefits.

What Is Pranayama?

Pranayama is defined as stretching, lengthening or modifying the breath. Despite being an involuntary process, breathing can be voluntarily controlled and manipulated. Controlled breathing helps you have a better grip on your mind and your body.

To perform Pranayama, ou can chosoe any meditative pose. If a meditative pose is difficult, you can opt for Sukhasana where the head, neck and spine are in a straight line. Focus on your breathing, try to feel each breath that you inhale and exhale from your nostrils. After you have done this, relax and spend some time to observe your entire body. Awareness should be present throughout the session.

Pranayam and its benefits to stay fit
Terminologies You Should Know:

  • Purak –Breathing in
  • Rechak –Breathing Out
  • Kumbhak – Holding the breath.

There are various kinds of Pranayama. Here are a few of them.

1. Bhastrika Pranayama

‘Bhastra’ is the Bellows Pump used to pump fire. ‘Bhastrika’ originates from this term. People with high blood pressure must not perform Bhastrika. They can, however, perform a modified version. In Bhastrika Paranayama, one must breath in and breath out rapidly and forcefully. At the same time, they must flap the stomach in and out. When you breathe in, your stomach will expand and when you breathe out, your stomach will contract.

Benefits : Gases exchange at a very fast pace. Oxygen intake increases as the body throws out more Carbon Dioxide. There’s an increase in the Metabolic Rate as well.

2. Anulom – Vilom

Also known as Alternate Nostril Breathing, follows a slow and deep rhythmic breathing pattern. To perform this variation, close the left nostril and breathe in through the right nostril. Hold your breath for 3-5 seconds. Close the right nostril and breathe in through the left nostril. Hold it for 3-5 seconds to increase the absorption of oxygen.

Benefits: Useful for people suffering from Sinusitis. This Pranayama relaxes the mind and the entire nervous system. It improves lung capacity, strengthens the heart and improves blood circulation.

3. Sheetali Pranayama

This Pranayama is also called Cooling Breathing. Before performing Sheetali Pranayama,  one must ensure that the atmosphere is clean. Roll the tongue and take a slow and deep breathe through the mouth. You will experience a cooling sensation on the surface of your tongue. Close the mouth and breathe out through the nostrils.

Benefits: It is very beneficial for people suffering from digestive disorders and acidity. This Pranayama also relaxes the mind.

4. Bhramari

It can be done towards the end of the session. Bhramari relaxes the mind and helps in blood circulation and circulation of Cerebrospinal fluid. Bhramari is also called Humming Bee Breath. Sitting in a meditation pose, breathe in through the nostrils (deep breath) and breathe out slowly, thereby, producing the humming sound like a Humming Bee. Inhalation and exhalation time will be the same.

5. Suryabhedan

Surya is referred to the right nostril and Bhedan is piercing. Breathing in through the right nostril and breathing out through the left nostril is called Suryabhedan. This energizing Pranayama stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, cleanses the skull and in the Hathapradipika, it is mentioned that the heat generated by this Pranayama will destroy the worms in the stomach.

6. Shitkari Pranayama

Also called the Hissing Breath, this Pranayama is performed by touching the teeth of the upper and lower jaw together and breathing in. You will experience a cooling sensation on the sides of the mouth and tongue. This is also a tranquilizing Pranayama. Regular practice of this will improve digestion and reduce acidity. It is a good practice for people suffering from insomnia. It is especially useful during Summer as it reduces the body’s temperature. While practicing this Pranayama, one must make sure that the atmosphere is clean.

Disclaimer: Please consult your GOQii Doctor before you start Pranayama. For further guidance, you can reach out to an expert by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

For more on Yoga and meditation, check out Healthy Reads.

We hope this article helps you! Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

#BeTheForce

June 29, 2022 By Palak Mittal Leave a Comment

8 Incredible Health Benefits Of Surya Namaskar 

benefits of surya namaskarSurya Namaskar literally means Salutations to the Sun. It is a combination of 12 yoga asanas, where the body, mind, and soul are brought into complete synchrony. They are done in sets, some do 12, some 15, while some 30, depending on their endurance. Scientifically too, there are multiple benefits of Surya Namaskar. Let’s explore them in detail!

The Benefits of Surya Namaskar 

  1. Stretching and flexibility: The 12 asanas which are part of the Surya Namaskar ensure that every part of the body is exercised. The flexibility that comes with it needs to be experienced to be believed. This is extremely beneficial for the bones, joints, and ligaments of the entire body and spine.
  2. Improves internal organ functioning: The various stretches increase blood flow to the organs and improve their functioning. The result is a better functioning digestive system and kidneys, which help in better absorption of nutrients from food and thorough elimination of metabolic waste. Detox happens naturally, with the release of trapped gasses and improved enzyme secretion.
  3. Weight loss: One of the best-proven ways to lose weight is to do Surya Namaskar on a daily basis. It is a perfect workout involving the complete body and is great for losing weight around the belly. It also is proven to improve the thyroid gland functioning, which plays a significant role in metabolism.
  4. Bone health: Traditionally, it is done during the early morning hours, at sunrise, which ensures the body gets the required amount of vitamin D. This is essential for good bone health.
  5. Stress buster: Stress release happens in multiple ways. Deep focused breathing is one of them. While performing the asanas, control over breathing is very essential and so, stress control is ensured. Various muscles and bones get tense with stress, and thorough stretching helps relieve the stress buildup. The mind is also calm during the workout, and so stress relief is further enhanced.
  6. Relief from insomnia: People who are not able to sleep should perform Surya Namaskar on a regular basis. Both stress relief and the perfect workout ensure good sleep.
  7. Helpful in menstrual cycles: Women who have cramps during their menstrual cycles have shown very good improvement with the inclusion of this exercise. It is also shown to benefit people with irregular menstruation thanks to the improved blood circulation. Pregnant women performing Surya Namaskar are more likely to have a normal delivery.
  8. Glowing Skin: With the release of toxins and stress, glowing skin is a natural affair!

We hope these 8 benefits of Surya Namaskar urge you to make it a part of your daily routine. For more on how yoga can help you lead a healthy and fulfilling life, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

May 19, 2022 By Mubasheera Chaiwala 2 Comments

Pranayama To Detoxify The Body, Mind And Vital Organs

detox your body with pranayama

Pranayama is the yogic practice of breath control. It means the ability to expand our health by controlling the breath. There are various ways and positions to practice yogic breathing.

The combination of pranayama and meditation has positive effects in curing various problems like acidity, stress, anxiety, skin diseases, improved blood circulation, and managing lifestyle disorders such as thyroid, PCOS, controlling blood sugar and blood pressure. 

We breathe daily, right? So what is pranayama? Why Pranayama? 

Pranayama is slow, deep breathing, in a rhythm. The breathing that we do normally is not in rhythm and is non-harmonic. It is in pranayama that gets our mind and organs in sync. There are various pranayama practices which you can do daily. 

1. Kapalbhati Pranayama
This is a famous pranayama practice also known as The Skull Shining Breathing Technique. Kapalbhati has  physiological effects on cardiovascular, digestive and nervous systems.

Benefits of Kapalbhati Pranayama: 

  • It Generates heat in the system to help dissolve toxins and waste matter.
  • Daily practice helps in adding luster to your face and you get glowing skin
  • Improves digestion and can help alleviate gastrointestinal problems like acidity, indigestion and flatulence.
  • Improves the function of kidneys and liver as it provides a gentle massage to the organs.
  • If practiced daily helps in reducing belly fat.
  • Kapalbhati helps reduce stress in the eyes, thus reduces dark circles around the eyes.
  • It triggers your abdominal region, so it’s beneficial for diabetic patients.
  • It improves the blood circulation problem in whole body parts.

2. Anulom Vilom
Also known as Alternate nostril breathing, it has various benefits for the body internally and externally. Oxygen is pure and required by the body for every single process to take place and therefore, it is vital for us to breath right and Anulom Vilom serves the purpose. It is the best way of balancing the Tri Dosas (Tri means “three” and the meaning of dosas is impurities) in our body i.e. Vaat, Pitta and Kaffa. All three are the cause of all diseases. So, it is important to balance them. Our body gets ill when Tri Dosas are not in harmony.

Benefits of Anulom vilom Pranayama

  • It can provide some relief from mental health problems like Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Tension, etc.
  • Improves the working of the lungs, beneficial for  most respiratory problems like (Bronchitis, Asthma), etc.
  • Best breathing technique for boosting your memory – makes your brain sharper, increases concentration and gathers focus.
  • Improves your immune system, so it can cure general issues like cough & cold.
  • Alternate nostril breathing is an ideal breathing technique for maintaining your heart healthy.

3. Sheetali Pranayama
The meaning of the word “Sheetali” is cooling down. This pranayama practice is a process to cool your body down. It gives the feeling of coldness by decreasing the body temperature, thereby having a positive impact on our nervous system and endocrine glands. Extremely helpful during the summer season.

Benefits of Sheetali Pranayama

  • It is useful in managing disorders related to tongue, mouth and throat.
  • It is very beneficial in treating diseases of the spleen.
  • Helpful in fever by cooling the system down.
  • Controls and manages high blood pressure.
  • It purifies the blood.
  • Improves sleep quality and is best for fighting Insomnia.
  • It calms the mind, as it is an effective stress buster. Once our mind is calm, we can easily deal with negative emotions like  anger and anxiety.
  • Effective in hyperacidity. Excellent for people who have GERD and face issues with acidity and indigestion.

There is another breathing practice similar to Sheetali, known as Sheetkari pranayama. 

Both are similar, the only difference is the way of breathing. In Sheetali, we breathe in by folding the tongue and breathe out from the nose. In Sheetkari, we inhale through the teeth and exhale from the nose.

Benefits of Sheetkari Pranayama

  • Effective against dental problems like bad breath, bleeding gums and pyorrhea.
  • Balances body temperature.
  • Calms the mind, reduces emotional excitation and mental tension.
  • Can help you manage depression, anxiety and panic attacks. 

As a yoga instructor, I get these questions a lot of time: What is the best time to do pranayama? Generally, morning is the best time for a breathing exercise as it helps us activate our organs. Plus, on an empty stomach, we achieve optimum benefits. To know why morning yoga is beneficial, you can have a look at my previous article: https://goqii.com/blog/benefits-of-practicing-morning-yoga-at-home. 

We hope this article helps you! For more on yoga, check out Healthy Reads. You can also get tips and learn more about yoga and pranayama from experts by subscribing for GOQii’s personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

August 7, 2020 By Dr. Naina Sudarshan 8 Comments

5 Simple Yoga Asanas To Strengthen Lungs

Simple Yoga Asanas

Lungs are the most important organs of the body as it involves the breathing process. Proper functioning of the lungs is critical for all the other body parts to function well. Recent pandemics including COVID-19, SARI and ILI infections are related to respiratory tract, especially the Lungs, making pulmonary health most important for everyone to prevent and manage these infections. Though we all know Pranayamas are controlled breathing or breathing exercises in Yoga, actual control of breathing starts with Yoga Asanas or the postures. Each Asana has its own breathing pattern. Breath or Prana is the primary source of energy or the force that keeps us alive. So, it is important to keep our lungs healthy and strong. Practising simple yoga asanas can have huge benefits on our lungs and overall health. Here are 5 simple Yoga Asanas which can strengthen our lungs with other benefits.

Simple Yoga Asanas To Strengthen Lungs 

1. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
simple yoga asanasThis posture fills the lungs with plenty of fresh air while we inhale and expands the rib cage and abdomen.  All the alveoli in the lungs are filled with extra oxygen and this enhances the performance of the lungs.

Method:

  • Stand straight with both the feet 2 inches apart
  • Inhale deep and raise both arms over the head and interlock fingers of both hands with palms facing up
  • Lift both the heels slowly while slowly raising your entire body upwards
  • Balance your entire body on your toes
  • Holding the position for few seconds while inhaling and exhaling normally
  • Slowly exhale while lowering the hands and heals down
  • Come to the rest position

2. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
This Asana opens up the chest cavity and lets the airways open for the lungs to get the air easily.

Method:

  • From standing straight position to spread your legs apart for 3-4 feet
  • Turn the right foot facing out 90 degrees toward right
  • Turn the left foot about 30 degrees inwards to the right
  • Inhale and raise both the arms up on the sides. Shoulder should be relaxed
  • Exhale and slowly bend your body onto the right side
  • Try to touch your right foot as much as possible with the right hand until the body is parallel to the ground and spine is straight
  • Slowly lift the left arm upward in line with the right arm
  • Hold this position for few seconds while looking up toward the tip of left hand
  • Slowly inhale and raise up your body. Exhale and bring down the arms on your sides
  • Repeat the same on the other side now

3. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Fish Pose)
This posture expands the chest and lungs on both sides

Method:

  • Sit on the floor with the legs stretched in front of you with feet together
  • Bend the right knee and keep the right foot with sole up
  • Sit on the right heel so that the left side of the sitting fits on the arch of the right sole
  • Now take the left foot over the right side of the right knee
  • Keep the left foot flat on the floor
  • Relax the shoulder and straighten up the spine
  • Now place the right arm on the outside of the left knee with hand and facing up
  • Inhale while lifting the rib and exhale while slowly twisting the spine towards the left
  • Keep the right pal flat on the back of your right foot
  • Turn your head towards the back from left side
  • Maintain the pose for few seconds
  • Slowly exhale and get back to the sitting position
  • Repeat the same on the other side

4. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
Though there are many benefits through this pose, it expands the chest and lungs to improve the lung capacity

Method:

  • Lie down with face down and feet together
  • Forehead should be touching the ground
  • Place the both the palms on side of your shoulders
  • Elbows are close to the body
  • Inhale and tighten the hip and the tailbone
  • As you exhale drawing the shoulders back, life the upper body
  • Back and abdominal muscles are stretched
  • Look straight or towards the ceiling as much as you are comfortable
  • Hold the position for few seconds
  • Exhale and return to the face down lying position

5. Shashankasana (Rabbit Pose)
simple yoga asanasThis is one among the easy poses that is easy for everyone. This is also called as child pose or Baalasana. It improves the lung capacity, expands the back part of the lungs, relieves upper and lower back issues and also spine issues

Method:

  • Sit in Vajrasana (Sitting on your feet with soles facing up and knees bent)
  • Inhale and slowly raise both the arms upwards straight above the head
  • Your abdomen and chest cavity are raised up with spine erect in this position
  • Now slowly exhale and bend forward with the spine erect
  • Let the abdomen rest on your knees
  • Hand stretched straight and rested on the floor above the head
  • Maintain this position for few seconds to few minutes while breathing normally
  • Inhale and raise your body and arms up
  • Get back to the Vajrasana position

All these Asanas have many other benefits on our health including increased flexibility, metabolism, toning the abdominal muscles and spinal health. People with back issues, neck issues, spine issues need to be cautious while doing any Yoga postures. It is always good to learn Yoga Asanas under good guidance. People having serious or chronic medical issues need to consult their doctors before doing Yoga.

We hope you try out these 5 simple yoga asanas to strengthen lungs and level up your health! For more articles on yoga, check out Healthy Reads or learn them in LIVE sessions conducted by yoga specialists on GOQii Play. 

 #BeTheForce 

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