Pranayama 

There are mainly 7 pranayama which can regulate the whole human body system and help human being live a healthy life:-

1. Bhastrika pranayama - For mind
2. Kapalbhati pranayama - For stomach
3. Bahaya pranayama - For urinary
4. Anuloma viloma pranayama - For respiration
5. Bhramari pranayama - For Head, eyes and heart
6. Udegeeth pranayama - Peace, meditation
7. Ujjayi pranayama - Thyroid, throat problems

Rules of pranayama

• Select a clean and peaceful place for doing Pranayama.

• Sit on flat surface folding your legs. You can sit on soft mat or blanket spread on the ground.

• Sit either in any of the Asanas Padmasana, Sidhasana, which ever you find convenient.

• Those who cannot sit in padmasan and sidhasan can also sit in sukhaasan or while sitting on the chair.

• Keep your spine straight and close your eyes while doing pranayama.

• Breathe only through the nose, because by doing so the air which you take in, is filtered.

• You can do Pranayama in the morning or evening or both times BUT empty stomach. Pranayama should be done after your usual morning functions like cleansing of mouth, evacuation of bowels etc. If you do it in evening there should be a gap of 4/5 hours in between your afternoon meal and time you start pranayama. In morning do not eat any thing before doing pranayama.

• Maintain a specific number of repetitions and do not variate. Maintain a specific rhythm.

• Keep your mind calm and composed. However, Pranayama can also calm down the disturbed mind and keep one happy.

• If you feel fatigued in the course of doing Pranayama , rest for sometime and then begin deep breathing, which will remove the fatigue.

• Pregnant women, hungry persons, persons suffering from fever and those who are lustful having no control on their passions should not do Pranayama . If you are sick, keep in mind the instructions to be followed by sick persons while during Pranayama.

• For prolonged exercises of Pranayama, observance of celibacy is necessary. Besides, food should be simple not containing irritating spices. It should be Plain and simple, non-spicy food. Use of cow milk, fruits and green vegetables can be said to be ideal food.

• Pranayama does not mean just breathing in, keeping the breathed air in and exhaling it. It also means establishing control on the entire breathing process, and maintaining mental equilibrium, and concentration of mind.

• It is beneficial to chant the mantra OM, aloud and repeat the same several times before doing Pranayama.