Pranayama; as a key to mental health

The word pranayama brings the image of a specific yogic practice in which there is a systematic process of breathing is involved. Basically pranayama is an important tool in Hatha yoga by which the practitioner not only establishes the harmony and control over the functioning of the physiological systems but also extends the control to those subtle processes of the body which support all those activities happening at the grosser levels of being.

Literally pranayama means the extension or expansion of the range of prana. And with this expansion of prana the consciousness is transported to the subtler realm of existence. In tantra energy and consciousness are used interchangeably. They are considered as the two sides of the same coin. Consciousness is considered as the static aspect of energy and energy is the dynamic aspect of consciousness. Therefore whatever changes or alterations happen in the realm of energy, will bring about a corresponding alteration in the state of consciousness. Based on this premise of tantra the technique of science of pranayama was developed by the ancients.

Pranayama is such a technique through which the practitioner comes in contact with the different dimensions of energy (gross to subtle) and by establishing control over the life force or prana, the control over the functioning of the mind body complex is developed. In the whole of the pranayama process different techniques of breathing are used.

Whenever the problems of mind management come we find that the practice of pranayama can serve as a potent tool to manage the problems of the mind and emotions. Because the breathing the process which can connect one to the different levels of functioning. And the breathing is also responsible for mobilizing the energies of the body. According to the science of yoga the energy is that aspect which keeps the mind and the body running.

The practice of pranayama has its own psychotherapeutic values. The reason is the use of various breathing techniques which bring about a qualitative change in the patterns of thoughts, feelings and emotions. In many somatic psychotherapeutic schools the therapists use breathing to change the patterns of awareness in the individuals. In different branches of Somatic-psychotherapy, such as Bioenergetics, Aqua therapy, Primal therapy etc, therapist uses the appropriate breathing technique to transform the mental state of the patients. It has been observed by these therapists that there is a connection between the nature of feelings, thoughts and the breathing patterns. If there is a change in the state of feelings and the thinking and feelings the breathing patterns are also altered. For example visualize a situation when we are in the state of anger, then what happens with our breathing patterns? How does it behave? We find that the harmonious flow of the breath is lost, it becomes arrhythmic, interrupted and tense. Now if we think about the state when we are relaxed, we would observe that in this state of harmony, the breath also becomes relaxed and harmonized and follows a constant rhythm. Based on the above observations the somatic psychologists concluded that there is a definite relationship between the states of mind and the breathing patterns.

There are various techniques of Pranayama some of them are activating, heating and invigorating, some are balancing, harmonizing and pacifying and some of them are cooling in nature. In the tradition of Hatha yoga Pranayama is the link between energy and consciousness. Through this tool the state of consciousness is altered and the practitioners access the hidden dimension of prana.

Besides the techniques now another important and unavoidable aspect of the whole process is the approach that decides where the practice and the technique will lead you to. Like any other yogic practice Pranayama needs proper centering of the self to go deeper levels of experiences and therefore it is equally important that the practitioner gives time to settle in properly and finally starts journeying within.