Part I: Benefits of Breath Regulation in Indian Scriptures
Part II: Effect of Yoga Practices on Voluntary Regulation of Cardiac Activity
By
Raghavendra R Bhat

ABSTRACT

Part I: Benefits of Breath Regulation in Indian Scriptures

The present study is to have a comprehensive view of benefits of breath regulation in Indian scriptures and yogic lore. The aim of breath regulation is to control the Präëa and through that control the mind. Various kinds of breath regulation is mentioned in the scriptures. Brodly, they are classified in to two categaries called: Vasiñöa school and Haöha yoga school of  präëäyäma. Haöha yoga school emphasizes on forceful kumbhaka. Whereas, Vasiñöa school gives importance to conscious natural retention of breathing (effeortlessly) by which mind becomes calm and still. But main aim of both is kumbhaka, i.e., stoppage of breath. To practice this guidance of the guru is essential. By practicing regularly and sincerely one will get immense benefits.
The body of a person practising the regulation of breath, becomes harmoniosly developed, emits sweet scent, and looks beautiful and lovely. He will get strong appetite, good digestion, cheerfulness, handsome figure, great courage, mighty enthusiasm and full strength. Präëa and mind are intricately linked. Fluctuation of one means fluctuation of the other. Practice of präëäyäma leads to mind control. Präëäyäma destroyes sin, as fire burns away a heap of cotton, it makes the yogé free from sin. By the practice of präëäyäma, the light veiling karma binding him to the world becomes powerless, and not meerely does it become powerless, but it is moment by moment destroyed. One will acquire various kinds of siddhis by the perfection in practice of präëäyäma.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The present study is done to have a comprehensive view of the benefits of breath regulation in the ancient Indian scriptures and yogic lore. the world präëa comes from samskrit root àk;eR[ Anit #it àa[> means movment. Breath is the gross menifestation of präëa. Mind and präëa are interlinked. This präëa is always moving, and the mind is ever changing. By controling präëa one can control the mind. präëäyäma is the technique by which the präëa and the mind are controled. Actually the meaning of präëäyäma is stopage of inhalation and exahalation. When präëa becomes still then mind also becomes still.

There are various types of präëäyäma according to ancient yoga texts. Broadly they are classified in to two categaries called Vasiñtöa school and Hatha yoga school of  pranayama. Haöha yoga school emphasizes on forceful kumbhaka. Whereas, Vasiñtöa school gives importance to conscious natural retention of breathing (effeortlessly) by which mind becomes calm and still.

The practice of breath regulation (präëäyäma) gives immense benefits. It is one of the best practice for spiritual growth. It destroys all the past karma. It is having lot of therapeutic applications. It improves digestive capacity, cures all the disease. Sädhakas will not suffer from hunger, thirst, sleep and laziness.  And also, since prana and mind are interelinked it directly helps to control the mind and uncover the hidden capabilities of mind. The regular dedicated practice leads to perfection in the präëäyäma which gives rise to various kinds of siddhis. When präëäyäma is done under the guidence of the Guru and practised sincerely gives all the benefits and finaly it takes to mokña itself.

Part II: Effect of Yoga Practices on Voluntary Regulation of Cardiac Activity

Fifty volunteers (group average age ± S.D., 25.4 ± 4.8 years; 25 males) were assessed in two trials on separate days. Each trial was for 12 minutes, with a pre state (6 minutes) and a during state (6 minutes). For both trials the ‘pre’ state was relaxation with eyes closed. In the ‘during’ state of Trial I, subjects were asked to voluntarily reduce their heart rate using a strategy of their choice. Based on a questionnaire it was determined that 22 out of 50 persons used breath regulation as a strategy. Hence in the ‘during’ state of Trial II subjects were asked to voluntarily reduce their heart rate by breath regulation. In the first trial, the heart rate reduction achieved was 19.6 beats per minute and in the second trial (with breath regulation) a decrease of 22.2 beats per minute was achieved. The heart rate variability (HRV) changes were suggestive of sympathetic dominance (with an increase in LF power), though these findings could also be related to breath frequency changes, and hence were inconclusive.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

In present study, fifty volunteers (group average age ± S.D., 25.4 ± 4.8 years; 25 males) were assessed in two trials on separate days. Each trial was for 12 minutes, with a pre state (6 minutes) and a during state (6 minutes). For both trials the ‘pre’ state was relaxation with eyes closed. In the ‘during’ state of Trial I, subjects were asked to voluntarily reduce their heart rate using a strategy of their choice. Based on a questionnaire it was determined that 22 out of 50 persons used breath regulation as a strategy. Hence in the ‘during’ state of Trial II subjects were asked to voluntarily reduce their heart rate by breath regulation. The study has shown that yoga practitioners with an average of 16 months of experience in yoga, were effectively able to reduce their heart rates by 19.6 beats per minute when they used strategies of their choice, and were able to achieve a reduction of 22.2 beats per minute when they all used breath regulation. In both cases the decrease in heart rate achieved in a 6-minute period. There was an increase in the LF power in the ‘during’ states of both Trial I and Trial II compared to the respective ‘pre’. This suggests that the shift to LF activity in the ‘during’ phase of both trials resulted from a change in breath rate to the low frequency range rather than from changes in autonomic balance. In both ‘during’ states of the two trials the HF power decreased, compared to the ‘pre’ as did the LF / HF ratio. The results are suggestive of a shift in the autonomic balance, with lower vagal activity and possible sympathetic predominance in the ‘during’ states. The exact mechanisms underlying the change are not known. Further studies, with a simultaneous recording of variables regulate by the autonomic nervous system along with the breath frequency would be expected to help in understanding the mechanisms involved.

Keywords:Breath regulation, Indian scriptures,yoga practices,voluntary regulation, cardiac activity.