How
to do weather-friendly pranayama?
Pranayama is a great activity of
Ashtanga yoga. Should this be do after the asana? And it is appropriate to do
it according to the season.
You can do Pranayama in winter, summer or rainy
season. But some are beneficial in autumn and some in summer. It is beneficial
to do them according to the season. How
to do weather-friendly pranayama? And why is it necessary to do them?
These questions will be answer in this article.
Pranayama and
favourable weather.
There is an
unlimited store of energy in our body. But this happens in the sleeping state.
Yoga can awaken it. The energy of our body protects us from the side effects of
the weather.
This energy is
awaken by regular practice of yoga. A new yoga practitioner (Beginner) should
do Pranayama according to the
weather. Let us understand this in detail.
What is the favourable season?
Regular yoga practice
awakens the energy of our body. It is the energy of the body that protects us
from the bad effects of the weather. Let us see what are the
weather-friendly Pranayama?
Some Pranayama is beneficial in winter and
some in summer, there are many Pranayama which
can do in every season.
Why weather-friendly Pranayama?
Maharishi Patanjali
gives a formula in Yoga sutra: –
ततो
द्वद्वानभिघात:।।यो.सूत्र 2.48।।
That is, no duality
(cold-heat, happiness-sorrow etc.) affects when the yoga is perfect. It means
that the weather does not affect the ‘Siddha-Yogi’. All seasons are favourable
for him. That’s why they do all Pranayama in
every season.
But the weather can
affect the average yoga practitioner. That’s why it is important to keep the
weather in mind while doing Pranayama. Pranayama should to do according to
the weather. Because some Pranayama is
favourable in winter and some in summer.
Harm due to adverse weather
(opposite) Pranayama.
It is not proper to
do Pranayama against the
weather. Pranayama which gives
heat to our body, doing them in the summer season can be harmful.
Similarly,
some Pranayama gives coolness
to the body. Therefore, doing them in autumn can cause harm.
That’s why it
should always kept in mind that do not do any action against the weather.
Winter friendly Pranayama.
In autumn our body needs more energy. Therefore, in this season, only
those activities which give heat to the body should to do.
This Pranayama is prohibited in the summer
season, It is beneficial to do them only in autumn. Let us see which Pranayama is beneficial in autumn.
1. Bhastrika.
This is one of the best Pranayama to
do in autumn. It is an energy giving process to the body.
(Visit our other articles to know method, benefits and precautions in
detail)
Method :-
- Sit in Padmasana or
Sukhasana.
- Keep the spine and neck straight.
- Keep both the hands on the
knees.
- Inhale and exhale through
both the nostrils. Inhale and exhale rapidly.
- Start at a slow pace first.
Increase the speed gradually.
- Do whatever you can.
- Slow down the speed
gradually.
- Come back after doing
whatever you can. Make breathing normal.
Do Ujjayi Pranayama after
Bhastrika. It increases the benefits of Bhastrika. (See next Blog:- How to do
Ujjayi Pranayama? )
Benefit :-
- Gives energy to the body in autumn.
- Keeps the balance of Kapha, Vata and Pitta.
2. Sun Piercing.
This Pranayama affects the Surya Nadi. The
Surya Nadi gives heat (energy) to the body. In this Pranayama, long deep breath have to take
from the right nostril. And after holding the breath as per your capacity,
exhale through the left nostril.
Method :-
- Sit in Padmasana or
Sukhasana.
- Keep the waist and neck
straight.
- Make Pranayama Mudra with left hand in
Gyan Mudra and right hand.
- Close the left nostril with
the third finger.
- Take a long deep breath
through the right nostril.
- Stop breathing as much as
possible. And exhale from the left side.
- It’s a complete cycle. For
the second cycle, do purak through the right nostril and rechak through
the left nostril.
- Similarly do 4 or 5
repetitions.
- Finally, normalize breathing.
Benefit :-
- The solar pulse is affect.
- The body gets heat.
- Establishes balance with
Chandranadi.
- Beneficial in low blood
pressure (Low-BP).
- Effective in Kapha-dosha.
Caution :-
A person with high blood pressure should not do this.
(See our other article to know about Surya
Bhedi Pranayama in detail)
Summer friendly Pranayama.
We need coolness in
hot weather. That’s why we must do activities that give coolness in this
season. Which Pranayama is
beneficial in this season?
1. Sheetali Pranayama.
This is the Pranayama that gives coolness to the
body. Must do this in the summer season.
Method :-
- Sit in the position of Padmasana or Sukhasana.
- Keep both hands in Gyan
Mudra.
- Close your eyes softly.
- Stick out the tongue a
little. Give the shape of a tube by folding the tongue from both the
sides.
- Inhale through the tube of
the tongue.
- After filling the breath
completely, stop the breath as much as possible.
- Bend the neck and touch the
chin to the chest (Jalandhara Bandha).
- Straighten the neck after
stopping as much as possible. Exhale through the nostrils.
- This is a recurring
fulfillment. For the second repetition, inhale again through the tube of
the tongue. Stay in the inner Kumbhak as per your capacity. And exhale
through the nostrils.
- Do 5 repetitions like this.
Or do according to your ability.
Benefit :-
This is the Pranayama that
gives coolness to the body.
2. Sitkari Pranayama.
This is also a
favourable Pranayama for
summer.
Method :-
- Sit in padmasana or a
comfortable position.
- Keep hands in Gyan Mudra
and eyes softly closed.
- Tie the upper and lower
jaws (teeth) by applying pressure.
- Touch the tongue to the
palate. Keep lips open.
- Inhale from between the
teeth and supplement it.
- After breathing completely,
apply internal Kumbhaka and Jalandhara Bandha as per your capacity.
- After stopping according to
your ability, straighten the neck. And exhale through the nostrils.
- This is one cycle complete
& Similarly do other rounds as per convenience.
- In the end, make your
breathing normal.
Benefits :-
This is also a cooling Pranayama.
3. Chandrabhedi Pranayama.
This is the
best Pranayama to affect the
chandranadi. This nadi gives coolness to the body. This is a favourable Pranayama in the summer season.
Method :-
- Sit in the position of
Padmasana or Sukhasana.
- Keep the left hand in Gyan
Mudra.
- Make Pranayama mudra with the right
hand.
- Close the right nostril
with the thumb. Take a long deep breath through the left nostril
(Chandranadi).
- After inhaling completely,
close the left nostril as well.
- Stay as much power as you
can in a full breath.
- After stopping according to
capacity, exhale from the right side.
- This is a recurring
completion. For the second repetition, again inhale from the left. Hold
the breath as much as you can and release it from the right side.
- Similarly do other rounds
as per requirement.
- Finally, normalize
breathing.
Benefit :-
- Chandranathji comes under
influence.
- The body gets coolness.
- Balances with Suryanadi.
- Beneficial in Pitta dosha
of the body.
- Beneficial in high blood
pressure.
Caution :-
People with low blood pressure should not do this. This pranayama can
also be harmful in Kapha Dosha.
Pranayama to
do in all seasons
Which Pranayama is prohibited in summer,
don’t do it in summer season, and it is prohibited in winter, don’t do them in
winter, Rest all Pranayama can
do in every season.
Some main Pranayama which can
do in every season.
1. Kapalbhati Kriya.
Mainly it is a purification process, but it can be also as Pranayama, this Pranayama can do in every season, it
will affects the cranial part.
Kapalbhati also affects the respiratory system.
Method :-
- It is best to sit in
Padmasana to do this action. If you cannot sit in Padmasan, then sit in a
comfortable position.
- Keep the waist and neck
straight. Keep hands on knees and eyes softly closed.
- Supplement breathing at a
normal pace and exhaling at a rapid pace. Exhale by inhaling the stomach.
Focus only on exhaling.
- Come back after doing
whatever you can. Normalize breathing.
- Do Anulom Vilom after Kapal
Bhati.
Benefit :-
- This activity can do in
every season.
- It is the best action for
the purification of the skull part.
- Lungs are active.
- There is a balance in Kapha, Vata and Pitta.
2. Anulom Vilom.
This is a simple Pranayama. Everyone can do this, Anulom Vilom must do after Kapalbhati.
Method :-
The method of this Pranayama is very simple.
- It is best to sit in Padmasana. If you cannot sit in Padmasan, then sit in Sukhasan or any other comfortable position.
- Keep the left hand in Gyan Mudra.
- Close the right nostril with the thumb by making Pranayama Mudra with the right hand.
- Take a long deep breath through the left nostril.
- Close the left nostril. Exhale from the right side.
- After exhaling completely, inhale from the right side.
- After filling the breath completely, exhale from the left side.
- This is a recurring completion. Do other repetitions in the same way.
- Finally, normalize breathing.
Benefit :-
- Increases the benefits of Kapalbhati.
- The brain will affect.
- Balance should be maintain in Suryanadi and Chandranadi.
This is a simple Pranayama, this can be do in all types of weather.
3. Bhramari.
This is also a simple pranayama & can do in every season.
Method :-
- Sit in padmasana or a comfortable position.
- Bend both the hands from the elbows.
- Bring both the palms in front of the face.
- Place the first two fingers in front of the eyes.
- Place the bottom two fingers below the nostrils in front of the lips.
- Close both the ear holes with both of the thumbs in such a way that the outside sound is can't heard.
- Take a long deep breath (supplement the breath).
- Hum the sound of um-um-um---- from the throat. Keep your mouth shut.
- Do the sound till the breath becomes completely empty (rechak).
- When the breath is completely empty, then supplement the breath. And hum till the breath becomes laxative.
- Do repetitions as per convenience.
- Keep in mind that only the sound of your hum should be hear.
Benefit :-
- Hearing power increases.
- There is an experience of peace.
- The brain comes under influence.
4. Nadishodhan.
This is the best Pranayama to purify the pranic channels, this can be do daily.
Method :-
- Sit in padmasana or a comfortable position.
- Keep the left hand in Gyan Mudra.
- Make Pranayama posture with the right hand and close the right nostril with the thumb.
- Take a long deep breath through the left nostril.
- After exhaling completely, close the left nostril as well.
- Hold the breath and apply internal Kumbhak.
- After holding the breath according to capacity, exhale from the right side.
- After exhaling completely, supplement the breath through the right nostril.
- After inhaling completely, close the right nostril. And empty the breath (laxative) from the left side.
- This is a recurring completion.
- Similarly do other repetitions according to your capacity.
Benefit :-
- Pranic channels are purified.
- Lungs become active.
- The respiratory system is strengthen.
- The heart gets confirmation when the body gets sufficient amount of oxygen.
Caution :-
If the condition of the breath is not good, do not apply Kumbhak. Respiratory patients and heart patients should not do this.
Summary :-
In yoga practice, one should do Pranayama according to the weather. In your Pranayama group, you must do at least one Pranayama according to the season. Adverse (reverse) action of weather can be harmful. Therefore, in the season in which the action prohibited should not to do.
Disclaimer :-
Our aim is not to cure any disease. Our aim is only to create awareness towards Yoga. Do all yoga activities according to the capacity of your body.