Effect of Pranayama on Human Body and Mind
International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine December 15, 2024 Priya Kumari, Saroj Adittya Rajesh, K Rama Chandra Reddy
Pranayama, a branch of yoga, involves controlling the flow of prana (life energy) through regulating inspiration, expiration, and retention of breath. The text describes pranayama as beneficial for physical and mental health, eliciting physiological reactions that aid stress reduction, relaxation, and control of psychophysiological conditions. It controls lung motion, which in turn influences the heart and vagus nerve, bringing autonomic nervous system functions under conscious control. Pranayama is associated with improvements in brain activity, heart function, blood oxygenation, and lung function, and different breathing techniques can decrease negative stress responses.