Achieve Health, Healing, and Harmony with the Power of Breath (Pranayama)
by Renu Sharma
The other day when I was in the shower, I suddenly observed water collecting at the bottom of the tub. Immediately I knew that there was a blockage. I could have plunged the drain after every shower, but I opted to open the drain from the inside and clean it. Last week my son’s car was not running smoothly, so rather than ignore it or keep putting more oil in, he decided to solve the problem by cleaning the engine and changing the oil. The point is that we can fix problems only by going within, not just by dealing with them superficially and treating the symptoms. Health works the same way: it has to radiate from the inside out as a result of deep cleansing that involves a profound understanding of life, a long-term vision, good discipline, and a willingness to find the health, harmony, and healing that we all are seeking.
We are blessed to be living in the 21st century, when medical technology is very advanced; modern medicine is extremely valuable to us in terms of diagnosis and acute care. However, when we consider long-term health and healing, we find that modern medicine has very little to offer. In medical science, we treat physical symptoms, or, rather, suppress them by popping an abundance of pills while the root cause of the disease remains untreated. The medical system knows only what it knows, and it knows only that we are physical beings—which is where its limitation begins. In contrast, yogic physiology holds that the human framework is composed of five bodies, or sheaths, which account for the various dimensions of human existence. These five sheaths are known as the physical body, the mental body, the vital energy body, the intellectual body, and the bliss body. True health is created and sustained when all five bodies are balanced and work with one another in alignment and harmony. Pranayama, the power of breath, can bring true health.
Before we unlock the secret of the power of breath, let’s understand the meaning of true health. In simple terms, you can consider yourself to be in true health when:
- You put your head down at the end of the day and fall asleep very soon. The next morning you wake feeling thoroughly refreshed and with an abundance of energy.
- At meal time you are very hungry and the food you eat gets digested well.
- You are able to empty yourself every morning without any aid.
- Clarity of mind is always with you to help you make your everyday decisions.
- Purity of heart is experienced through the sincerity of your actions.
The breath is the most vital process of the body. It influences the activities of each and every cell and, most importantly, is intimately linked with the performance of the brain. Human beings breathe about 15 times per minute and 21,600 times per day. Respiration fuels the burning of carbon dioxide and glucose, producing energy to power every muscular contraction, glandular secretion, and mental process. Most people breathe incorrectly, however, using only a small part of their lung capacity. Breathing shallowly deprives the body of oxygen, which is, of course, essential to good health. Irregular breathing disrupts the rhythms of the brain and leads to physical, emotional, and mental blocks. These, in turn, lead to inner conflicts, imbalanced personalities, disordered lifestyles, and disease. Conversely, rhythmic, deep, and slow respiration induces a calm, content state of mind.
Pranayama (in Sanskrit, “prana” means breath and “yama” means extension or expansion of that breath) is a series of ancient breathing techniques that, when done in proper sequence, rejuvenate the energy body. This rejuvenation brings the other four bodies into correct balance. Pranayama is an art that makes the respiratory organs expand intentionally, rhythmically, and intensively. As yoga master B. K. Iyengar (2005) once stated, “The respiratory system is the gateway to purifying the body, mind, and intellect. The key to this is pranayama. So in pranayama, we make the respiratory system function at its best. This automatically improves the circulatory system, without which the process of digestion and elimination would suffer. Toxins would accumulate, diseases would spread throughout the body, and ill health would become habitual.”
Conscious pranayama breathing is one of the most powerful tools available in this fast-paced society to eliminate stress from our daily lives. Excessive stress can result in a weak immune system, slow metabolism, increased bodily toxins, decreased oxygen intake through shallow breathing, and improper sleep and diet. The various techniques of pranayama mainly concentrate on two principles. The first is the abundant intake of oxygen and pranic energy, and the second is the removal of bodily toxins. A proper balance of both of these principles boosts the immune system, creates a balance among the five sheaths, and revitalizes the whole being.
Pranayama establishes regular breathing patterns, which break negative cycles and reverse negative processes. It does this by taking control of the breath and reestablishing the natural, relaxed rhythms of the body and mind. It is said that nature determines our life span by the number of respirations we take. Those performing pranayama are required to take fewer breaths in a day and, therefore, they live longer. When people practice the art of pranayama under proper guidance and instruction, their lives and their health begin to transform from within.
The pranayama exercises consist of three basic parts: the physical part, the scientific part, and the spiritual part. The physical part includes the proper breathing techniques. Sitting still with an erect spine and breathing only through the nostrils (unless otherwise specified) are the basic physical aspects of doing pranayama.
The scientific part includes the inhalation and exhalation process. During normal inhalation the average person takes in approximately 500 cubic centimeters of air. During the deep, rhythmic inhalations of pranayama, the intake of oxygen and pranic energy is eight times more, or about 4,000 cubic centimeters, which increases the lung capacity. During exhalation, stale air is exhaled, the lungs are emptied, and toxins are expelled.
Spiritually, pranayama practice removes blockages of the energy body, enabling an increased absorption of prana. Depression, negativity, fears, anxiety, and other kinds of mental agitation are some of the blockages of the energy body that will start to fade away as practice is sustained. Pranayama develops a steady mind, strong will power, and sound judgment.
Pranayama has been shown to be very effective in combating ailments such as asthma, migraines, depression, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, and many more. A seven-step pranayama program has been developed by Power of Breath, a nonprofit organization that provides classes and seminars in Illinois and Michigan. This program brings changes at all levels, from the physical to the spiritual, to create healthy bodies, minds, and spirits. It’s a simple and effective way to de-stress and detoxify oneself on a daily basis. Once learned, the program can be used to create an abundance of success, health, healing, and happiness in one’s life. These techniques can be practiced any time, anywhere, by all age groups, and, when learned properly, without the assistance of others. Recharge, rejuvenate, and heal yourself with the power of breath through pranayama. Give yourself the gift of conscious breathing, and take charge of your life!
Renu Sharma Biography
Renu Sharma is a registered occupational therapist who has practiced in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area for the last 20 years. Along with her husband, Raj, a physical therapist, she owns and practices at Advantage Physical Therapy in Portage, Michigan.
Sharma has studied in India and the United States and combines Eastern and Western medicine and philosophy in the treatment and healing of her patients. She uses a holistic approach that allows her to care for each individual’s mind, body, and spirit.
In the last five years she has taught pranayama (yogic breathing techniques) and meditation to thousands of people in Michigan and Illinois, by offering free seminars and weekly free sessions. In addition, she offers disease-specific pranayam and detox programs. She has also presented seminars at the Michigan Cancer Center, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Parker and Hannifin, with extremely positive response from the participants and organizers.
Along with her brother, Arun Tandon, and her sister, Anu Malhotra, Sharma founded the Power of Breath team, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness about pranayama and its effectiveness in promoting and restoring health.
Sharma has received extensive training in the art of yogic breathing from world-renowned yoga master Ram Dev, and she has made it her life’s mission and passion to help alleviate people’s physical and emotional pain.
Sharma says, “As long as the Universe allows me, I am dedicating my time and efforts to teach this art of yogic breathing (pranayama) to as many people as I can touch.”
If you would like to participate in or organize a pranayama seminar in your area, or if you have a health-related question, Sharma will gladly take your call. She may be reached directly at (269) 207-8478 or via email For more information, please visit powerofbreath.org.
- “Pranayam” and “pranayama” are both valid and interchangeable phrases meaning the same thing.
- Visit www.powerofbreath.org for patient testimonials.
References: Iyengar, B.K. (2005), Light On Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing, The Crossroad Publishing Company, New York, NY