Pranayama is one of the most important parts of the yoga system that was discovered about 4,000 years ago. Pranayama means Life + Control. In simpler sense, Prana means Air and Ayam means Control. In other words, Pranayam is a specialised method of controlling one’s breathing. Breathing is one of our most important activities for our sustenance. We can survive a few days without taking food, but we can’t survive even a few minutes without breathing. The process of inhalation and exhalation begins at our birth and stops only at our death. This is the reason why it is said that our life is a just a combination of breath.
Why do living organisms breathe?
Every living cells and tissues need energy to survive and to perform certain tasks. This energy remains stored in the particles of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids etc. which are formed after the eaten food is digested. Blood carries these particles to the cells and tissues across the body to be stored there for further usage. This energy is then released by a unique chemical reaction called gentle combustion or slow oxidation. It is imperative to understand that the process of slow oxidation cannot take place without the presence of oxygen. The atmospheric air that we breathe contains about 20% oxygen. This oxygen reaches our lungs through the breathing process and from there the haemoglobin in the blood carries the oxygen to all the cells in our body, making it possible for the slow oxidation to occur. This oxidation process not only helps our body maintain its optimal temperature but also allows our body to perform various activities. Carbon dioxide and a certain quantity of water vapour are produced during the oxidation process. The decline of oxygen level in the body consequently hampers the oxidation process occurring in cells and tissues. It then results in the cells to starve of energy needed to perform their functions, leading to their decay and ultimately to their death. Similarly, the moment a living organism stops breathing, it inevitably dies.
Exchange of Air at Lungs:
The atmospheric air generally contains 78% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen, less that 1% of Carbon Dioxide, some amount of water vapour, dust, etc. Our wind pipe and trachea gets divided into two bronchi. These bronchi are then divided into a network of smaller bronchioles at the end of which air-sack called alveoli are present. A network of blood capillaries envelope these Alveoli and it is through this part that 60-80 millilitre of blood flows at every moment. Certain amount of air we breathe gets retained in the nose, trachea, bronchi etc. Similarly, some amount of air that gets retained during exhalation re-enters the body during the next inhalation. Consequently, for every 500 ml of air we inhale, only 350 ml of air is pure. This way, each minute, almost five litres of pure air enters our lungs.
A continuous process of exchange of oxygen inside the alveoli and the oxygen in the blood capillaries surrounding it occurs. This process occurs due to two reasons. Firstly, the walls of the alveoli and the bronchioles are so thin that gaseous matter could easily pass through them. The second reason is the difference of air pressure between those two parts. It is a well known fact that in a mixture of gases, the pressure applied by each gas is proportionate with its concentration or quantity in the mixture. This same phenomenon also works in our respiratory system.
The partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli of our respiratory system stays at 105 mmHg. On the other hand, the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood capillaries stays at around 45 mmHg. Similarly, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the alveoli and in the blood capillaries remains at 35 mmHg and 50 mmHg respectively. It has been observed that if two kinds of gases or a mixture of gases are separated by a thin permeable membrane, the gaseous molecules from the high pressure zone would permeate to the low the pressure zone. This phenomenon is also known as Diffusion. Thus, the oxygen present in the alveoli permeates to the blood capillaries and the carbon dioxide from the blood capillaries moves to the alveoli. The CO2 is then further ejected out of the system through the exhalation process. On the other hand, the O2 which had permeated to the blood capillaries gets immediately absorbed by the haemoglobin. Greater the difference of pressure between the gases or the mixture of gases exist between the alveoli and the blood capillaries, faster the diffusion process would occur.
The absorption of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide and water vapour from our system are the two cornerstones of our respiratory system. As long as we are alive, this process of inhalation and exhalation continues unconsciously according to the needs and demands of our body. Our nervous system controls this need and demand of oxygen in our body.
Why Breathing needs to be controlled:
If we observe ourselves, we will find that due to the low requirement of oxygen during rest, the breathing process becomes relaxed and slow. On the contrary due to the higher demand/ requirement of oxygen and release of more carbon dioxide from our system while performing any kind of activity, our breathing process becomes more shallow, fast and strained at times. In case of some ad hoc or sudden form of activities, like performing a long jump or a high jump, or exerting ourselves to lift a excessively heavy weight, our breathing processes automatically stops momentarily. Similarly, if we are very much engrossed in a particular kind of activity or receive a sudden injury our normal breathing stops for a while. Thus, it is clear that our breathing is controlled by our nervous system. The diaphragm, the muscles surrounding our wind pipe including those of our neck works together in synchronisation during this breathing process. Consequently, the strength and suppleness of these muscles help in the proper functioning of the breathing process.
From the above discussion it has become clear that there is a direct link between our breathing/ respiratory process, and our physical and mental state. According to the Yogic scriptures, there is no significant difference between breath and mind. They are just two aspects of the same existence, working together in tandem. Both are important to us. Moreover, the importance of breathing is due to the simple fact that our survival depends on it. Additionally, the mind that is influenced by different kind of chemical reactions happening inside our body is also important for our survival. It is the faculty that helps us to relate with the external world by helping us to experience different kind of sensations like pleasure, happiness, joy, uneasiness, pain etc. If we can keep our mind in a peaceful state and keep it content, we can truly enjoy a life of fulfilment. We can achieve such a state of mind if we become more mindful of our breathing process. Therefore, if we are to keep our body and mind in sync and in a blissful and healthy state, we can achieve that by practising a method of controlled breathing. Pranayama is one such method, which is very easy and simple to follow.
Importance of Pranayama: Under normal circumstances, with each breath, our body uses around 250 ml of oxygen and releases about 250 ml of carbon dioxide. To replenish our body’s requirement of oxygen, we need to inhale 125 litres of air each minute. However, our body utilises only around 5-6 litres of air each minute. It is due to the fact that the entire amount of air inhaled by a person does not reach the end point of the respiratory system i.e. the air does not enter the air-sack/ alveoli. Some amount of air gets stuck in the nose, trachea, bronchi, etc. A certain amount of such air re-enters the air-sack/ alveoli in the next breathe. The air that eventually reaches the alveoli consists of mere 16% oxygen. Thus, it becomes necessary to inhale more air to replenish the bodily requirement of oxygen.
We all know that certain activities and occurrences are in our control whereas some others are not. The same phenomenon also applies with our bodily functions. Some of our body parts and their functioning that are dependent on voluntary muscles like that of hands, legs, mouth, neck movement etc. can be controlled by us. On the other hand, body parts and their functioning that are dependent on Autonomic nervous system cannot be controlled by us. Some of the examples are functioning of heart, blood circulation, secretion of hormones and digestive juices, digestion of food etc. These functionalities cannot be controlled by us at will, but can only be maintained by the internal balance of the physique.
Now, breathing is a process that lies between the two state i.e., it happens automatically without our intervention but can also be controlled by us voluntarily. Most of the time, the process of inhalation and exhalation happens without our voluntary involvement. However, we can also modify the breathing process according to our will. We can either slow the breathing process or hasten it according to our wish. Pranayama, is one such practice that can help us control our breath at will, consequently empowering us to control our vital life forces.
