The effects of Pranayama

• Asanas improve the blood circulation throughout the body, including the head, trunk and limbs.

• Those appropriate for legs and arms keep the circulatory system active. The arterial, capillary, venous and lymphatic circulation is stimulated by the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the muscles which act as pumps by the opening up of new and unused vascular beds. This allows efficient supply and utilisation of energy and promotes a remarkable resistance to disease.

• Although asanas produce similar effects in the trunk, pranayama affects rhythmic expansion of the lungs, creating the proper circulation of the bodily fluids within the kidneys, stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, skin and other organs, as well as the surface of the torso.

• The lungs are directly concerned with the disposal of carbon dioxide in the venous blood and preventing ammonia, ketones and aromatic amines from building up to toxic levels. The lungs need to be kept clean and free from bacterial diseases by an efficient circulation of blood and lymph. Pranayama helps here by keeping the lungs pure and by increasing the flow of fresh blood.

• The functions of the liver depend on hepatic arterial current bringing in waste substances to be chemically altered so that they can be excreted in the bile and urine. It also depends on portal venous circulation to bring in blood from the stomach and small intestine to be filtered and processed to remove toxins and bacterial products. The liver also has an active lymphatic circulation and supplies scavenger cells which wander in the blood lymph, picking up solid wastes, foreign cells and their products for breakdown or storage. All these activities are stimulated by pranayama.

• In the kidneys, production of urine is dependent upon the continuous filtration of large volumes of arterial blood through the rental cortex. This flow is susceptible to conflicting demands and is often too low. Tendencies to shunt blood away from the renal cortex are countered by auto-regulation of flow by the local small arteries. This process depends on proper intra-renal pressures and hence will be aided by pranayama in achieving the correct position, shape and state of tension in the kidneys. Internal massage by phasic activity in essential to keeping the organ healthy.

• The rhythmic use of the diaohragm and abdominal muscles in pranayama directly syimulates the peristaltic and segmenting movements of the intestines, as well as promoting intestinal circulation. Thus, it helps the intestine in its functions of absorbing food materials and disposing of solids wastes, mainly unabsorbed food and the products of our friendly bacteria, the colonic flora, as well as those containing the residue of secretion from the liver (bile), pancreas and intestines.

• The spleen, just under the left diaphragm, acts as a filter to purify the circulating blood of worn-out oxygen-carrying red cells. Much of the splenic blood circulation is within lymphatic structures and is stimulated by pranayama.

• Pranayama hepls to maintain the flow of pure blood, which tones the nerves, brain, spinal cord and cardiac muscles, thus maintaining their efficiency.

• The sweat glands act as accessory micro-kidneys, especially when stimulated by pranayama.

• According to yogic texts, regular practice of pranayama prevents and cures diseases. Improper practice, howerver, may cause asthma, cough. Hyper-tension, pain in the heart, ears and eyes, dryness of the tongue and hardness of the bronchioles.

• Pranayama purifies the nadis, protects the internal organs and cells, and neutralises lactic acid, which causes fatigue, so that recovery is quick.

• Pranayama increases digestion, vigour, vitality, perception and memory. If hrees the mind from the grasp of the body, sharpens the intellect and illumines the self.

• An erect spine can be compared to a cobra which has lifted its hood. The brain is the hood and the organs of perception are the fangs, while bad thoughts and desires are the poison glands. Practice of pranayama quietens the upsurge of the senses and desires. Thus the mind becomes sacrosanct or free of thoughts. The sadhaka's words, thoughts and deeds become clean and pure. He maintains firmness in the body and steadiness in his intellect.

• Practice alone brings strength and knowledge. Daily practice ensures success and perfect consciousness, which purge the sadhaka from the fear of death.

• The sadhaka experiences a state of serenity. He no longer thinks of the past, nor fears the future, but remains ever in the present. When he has mastered pranayama while sitting in padmasana, he is ready to become a liberated soul says the Hatha yoga pradipika.

• As wind drives away smoke and impurities from the atmosphere and its inherent quality is to burn and purify the area, pranayama is a divine fire which cleanses the organs, senses, mind, intellect and ego.

• As the rising sun slowly disperses the darkness of night, pranayama removes the impurities and refines the sadhaka and prepares his body and mind to become fit for concentration and meditation.

• Pranayama is the window of the 'self'. That is why it is called the great austerity and the true knowledge of the self.

References

The above mentioned information is added from the book called LIGHT ON PRANAYAMA by B.K.S. IYENGAR.