Preparation to yogic breathing as well as some popular methods of yogic breathing (pranayama) are mentioned here, along with some additional health tips.

1. PRAANAAYAAMAPRAANAAYAAMA
CLASSCLASS
By Aravinda K.,
BE, MS (Engg), MTech
Samskrtha Kovida,
Geetha Kovida

2. WHAT I AM NOW IS
GOD’S GIFT TO ME.
WHAT I WILL BECOME
IS MY GIFT TO GOD.
- Swami Chinmayananda

3. PRAANAAYAAMAPRAANAAYAAMA
• Our breathing rate has direct relationship
with our emotions and on general health.
• The practice of praanaayaama increases
the breathing volume and hence reduces
the breathing rate.
• Slower the breathing rate, better is the
lifespan, as indicated below –

4. CREATURE BREATHING RATE LIFESPAN
(breaths/minute) (years)
Mouse 120 3
Rabbit / Pigeon 40 8
Dog / Monkey 30 15
Sheep 25 25
Horse 20 40
Human being 15 80
Elephant / Whale 12 120
Serpent 8 130
Tortoise 6 150
Turtle 4 250

6. • There are about 300 million alveoli in
the two adult lungs.
• These provide a surface area of around
1700 sq. ft. (one side of a tennis court)
• Together, the lungs contain 2,400
kilometers of airways approximately.
• An average adult body will contain
approximately 5 liters of blood.
HUMAN LUNGS

7. • The human heart pumps about 70 ml of
blood per beat of heart.
• If 72 beats occur per minute, then
about 5 liters of blood is pumped per
minute.
• About 7,200 liters of blood is pumped
per day. This adds up to 26,28,000 liters
of blood per year.
• About 18,40,86,000 liters of blood gets
pumped, by a life span of 70 years.
LUNGS & HEART

8. WHAT
ARE
THE
METHODS
IN
WHICH
THE
LIVING
ONES
BREATHE?

10. BIO-CHEMISTRYBIO-CHEMISTRY
The chemical reaction happening within our
body to yield energy, produced by the combined
effect of food intake and breathing, is:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 686 kcal.
The energy that is produced in the gross form is
measured in calories. The subtle form of energy,
called as “Praana”, is immeasurable.
Total volume of human lungs is about 5
litres, out of which only about ½ litre of air is
inhaled during normal breathing. In that
inhaled air, Oxygen’s amount is only 21%.
Exhaled air contains 16% Oxygen.

11. PRAANAAYAAMA contd…PRAANAAYAAMA contd…
• Many methods of praanaayaama are
described in the scriptures, and by the
great yogis. Some of them are:
Mahathyoga, Savithri, Nadi-shuddhi (adhama,
madhyama, uththma), Bandhathraya,
Panchasahitha, Kapalabhathi, Kaki, Naga,
Gayathri, Ekadasha kriya, Soham kriya,
Mahamudra, Mahabandha, Mahavedha,
Nadi-shodhana, Mandala pranayama,
Agnisara kriya, Swasthashwasa kriya, so on -

12. PRAANAAYAAMA contd…PRAANAAYAAMA contd…
• The shloka in Hatayoga-pradeepika :
Sooryabhedanam ujjaayee
sheethkaaree sheethalee thathaa |
Bhasthrika bhraamaree moorchaa
plaavinee ithi ashta kumbhakaaha ||
• Dead air in the nose, pharynx, larynx,
trachea, bronchi & bronchioles decreases
gradually from 95% to 50%. Alveolic air
increases gradually from 5% upto 50%.

13. EASEFUL BODY
AND
PEACEFUL MIND
WILL BE
USEFUL   

14. PREPARATIONPREPARATION
• Methods of expanding the breathing
capacity (slow, deep, long) –
• Forced control - Shashasana,
Vyaghrasana, Makarasana, Salamba
Makarasana
• Conscious control - circumscribing
using the hands: on stomach, on chest,
upper chest (palms on the back), and throat
region (hands raised above the head)

15. PREPARATION contd…PREPARATION contd…
• Remote control - Chinmudra,
Chinmayamudra, Adimudra, Merumudra
(Udarashwasa, Urashwasa, Greevashwasa,
KanThashwasa)
• Complete control - Brahmamudra, later
placing left palm on stomach and right palm on
chest with thumbs upward, and breathing fully
• Cleansing - Mukha dhauthi,
Greevamudra, Vyaghra kriya

16. SUCCESS TRILOGYSUCCESS TRILOGY
ATTITUDE SKILL
KNOWLEDGE
Self control is the best control

17. ATTITUDE SKILL KNOWLEDGE
SELF BODY MIND
LEARN PRACTISE DEDUCE

19. NOSTRIL LEFT RIGHT
Naadi’s name Ida Pingala
Another name Chandra Soorya
Effect on body Coolness Warmth
Brain’s side Right side Left side
Mind’s control Subconscious Conscious
Governance Emotions Thoughts
Faculty Intuition Intellect
Gaining Devotion Knowledge
Induction Rest Activity
Factor Qualitative Quantitave
TWO NOSTRILS

21. PRACTICEPRACTICE
• Mahathyoga : start with 6:6 ratio, and
increase upto 16:16 gradually
• Savithri : start with 6:3:6:3 ratio, and
increase upto 16:8:16:8 gradually
• Nadi shuddhi : use Nasikamudra and start
from left nostril; initially perform nadi-shodhana
kriya; start with 4:16:8:0 and increase the ratio as
per your capacity

22. PRACTICE contd…PRACTICE contd…
• Bandhathraya : Ashwinimudra, Mayuramudra
and Shwanamudra;
- Moola, jalandhara and uddyana bandhas;
- Practice with 4:16:0:8 ratio, with Dronamudra
• Panchasahitha : 4:16:8:4 – for lungs, 4:4:16:8
– for liver, 8:4:4:16 – for digestive organs, 16:8:4:4
– for kidneys, 4:16:8:0 – for heart

23. PRACTICE contd…PRACTICE contd…
• Kapalabhathi (fast breathing, with
pressure exerted on rechaka)
• Kaki (pooraka through nose, rechaka
through mouth with sound)
• Naga (very slow rechaka with visualizing
of out-breath through skin)

24. Sl.
No.
Breathing
pattern
Benefits of the
breathing practice
1 2 : 1 : 2 : 1 Increases the respiratory rates
2 4 : 2 : 4 : 2 Protects against heart attacks
3 6 : 3 : 6 : 3 Helps control the emotions
4 8 : 4 : 8 : 4 Increases the metabolism
5 10 : 5 : 10 : 5 Strengthens the body
6 12 : 6 : 12 : 6 Awakens the mind
7 14 : 7 : 14 : 7 Calms the senses
8 16 : 8 : 16 : 8 Rejuvenates
Varieties of Saavithri Praanaayaama

25. PRACTISING TIPSPRACTISING TIPS
• Practice of yoga should be done preferably in
the early morning with empty stomach, clean
body, loose clothing and at a silent place.
• Never practice on bare ground; use a carpet
or thick cloth beneath.
• Don’t apply excessive force while practicing;
let it be within the limits of your body and mind.

26. PRACTISING TIPS contd…PRACTISING TIPS contd…
• Don’t practice during unhealthy conditions; don’t
practice the ratioed breathing exercises when the
weather is cold; practice the other ones, such as
Nadishodhana kriya, Kapalabhathi & Kaki.
• Ladies should not practice yogic exercises during
menstruation period.
• Pranayama practice should be started initially with a
smaller ratio; the final capacity should be built up
slowly and steadily.

28. THINKTHINK
BEST HAPPINESS – BEING USEFUL BEST REMEDY – OPTIMISM
BEST SATISFACTION – DUTY DONE BEST SENSATION – PEACE OF MIND
BEST TEACHERS – CHILDREN BEST DOCTORS – DR.DIET & DR.QUIET
GREATEST POWER – FAITH GREATEST MYSTERY – DEATH
MOST DANGEROUS PEOPLE – LIARS MOST NECESSARY PEOPLE –
PARENTS
WORST DEFEAT – TO LOSE HEART WORST ERROR – TO GIVE UP
WORST FAULT – BAD TEMPER
EASIEST JOB – FINDING FAULTS FASTEST ROAD – THE RIGHT WAY
NICEST THING OF ALL – LOVE ALL ROOT OF ALL MISFORTUNES –
EGOISM
REAL NECESSITY – COMMUNICATION PURPOSE OF LIFE – TO REALIZE SELF

29. WINNER LOSER
ADJUSTS THE SELF TO THE
WORLD
EXPECTS THE WORLD TO
ADJUST TO SELF
DISCUSSES IDEAS & EVENTS DISCUSSES EVENTS & PEOPLE
INTERESTED MAINLY IN THE
SELF’S WORK
INTERESTED MAINLY IN
OTHERS’ WORKS
LEARNS EVEN BY AN ANT DOES NOT LEARN
EVEN BY ELEPHANT
RESPECTS THE SYSTEM ABUSES THE SYSTEM
SIMPLE LIVING & HIGH THINKING COMPLEX LIVING & LOW
THINKING
SOLVES OLD PROBLEMS CREATES NEW PROBLEMS
SUCCEEDS WITH PLAN FAILS WITH EXCUSES
THOUGHTS, SPEECH & ACTION
MATCH EACH OTHER
THOUGHTS, SPEECH & ACTION
DO NOT MATCH EACH OTHER
FINISHES ALL THE JOBS
UNDERTAKEN
LEAVES MANY JOBS
UNFINISHED
UTILIZES TIME, MONEY & ENERGY WASTES THEM ALL!

31. KNOW GOD
KNOW PEACE
NO GOD
NO PEACE