How to gain control over mind by practicing pranayam?

Respiration slows down with the practice of Prānāyam. As the respiratory rate decreases, the heart rate too decreases. Those with a low pulse rate have low risk of cardiac illness. If a middle aged and healthy individual has a pulse rate of less than seventy beats per minute then it is ideal.

While practising Pranayam oxygen supply to all the cells in the body is reduced. As a result, even when the oxygen supply is reduced the cells adapt to it and function marginally or survive. Thus if an individual enters the gaganavashesh or turyāga states of the Super-conscious state (samādhi) [refer ‘Science of Spirituality: Vol. 16 - Path of Meditation (Dhyānyoga)’] then though there is complete cessation of breathing for sometime, the cells in his body do not die. Click here to read more.

• 1. Benefits of Pranayam
  • 1.1 According to physiology
  • 1.2 According to psychology
  • 1.3 According to the science of Spirituality
• 2. Practical suggestions
  • 2.1 Restrictions
  • 2.2 Place
  • 2.3 Time and period (kal)
  • 2.4 Seat (āsan)
  • 2.5 Clothing
  • 2.6 The stomach should be empty
  • 2.7 Procedure
  • 2.8 What should be the frequency of practice?
  • 2.9 Thoughts during Pranayam
• 3. Stages of progress
• 4. The duration of kumbhak occurring automatically in some states from the Ashtāngāyoga
• 5. Dangers
• 6. Comparison with other paths of Yoga