The Benefits Of Teaching Pranayama

Pranayama is an important part of the practice of yoga. It is sometimes referred to as “breathing yoga” because it involves teaching people how to control their breathing. You will often find pranayama combined with other key components of yoga. Asanas, also known as postures, are commonly taught in tandem with pranayama because both of these are critical to a person developing a good yoga routine. They also allow a yoga student to get in touch with his or her body. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of teaching pranayama:
1. Reduced Breathing Rate
The practice of pranayama breathing techniques can allow a person to control their breathing to the point where they can breathe deeper and slower than they did before. It is common for people who practice pranayama to lower their breathing from roughly 15 breaths per minute to five or six breaths per minute. Lowering your breathing rate by one third can lower the heart rate, making it easier to enter a state of meditation. It can slow down wear and tear on your organs. Your blood pressure will be lowered, relieving stress in your body.
2. Longer Life
For many centuries, yoga philosophy has stated that a person’s breathing rate is directly connected to how long they are going to live. By learning to lower their breathing rate through the practice of pranayama, a person can potentially increase their longevity. An example that yoga practitioners frequently use is that of a tortoise, which only takes roughly five breaths per minute and often lives for well over a century.
3. Improved Blood Circulation
When a person breathes, blood that is freshly oxygenated will travel from the lungs and make its way to the heart. It is pumped by the heart and carried by blood vessels and arteries throughout the entire body. It will then start to seep into all of the cells and tissues in the body. The focused breathing techniques frequently utilized and taught during the practice of pranayama will make a person’s blood circulation better than it was before they started to use these techniques.