Air Therapy

In our school days we would have done a simple Bell jar experiment proving the truth that a candle will burn only in the presence of oxygen produced from a plant.

1. The simple scientific truth is that for anything to burn requires oxygen (1). 2. When a burning candle is covered with a bell jar, the candle flame goes out without oxygen. 3. When a plant is kept inside the bell jar, the candle flame continues to burn because oxygen is supplied by the plant. Oxygen is required for the fat in the candle to burn and give out light energy. This is true in our body too. The food we eat is digested and converted to mainly sugar (glucose) and fatty acids. The glucose and fatty acids are burned inside the cells in the presence of oxygen. When oxygen is absent our cells cannot burn the fat and sugar to produce energy. We may eat well and give more than enough fat and sugar to the body, but if we do not give oxygen the body cannot burn them to produce energy. This is why we always are tired though we eat well because we do not breath in enough oxygen. Throughout the day we are not aware of our breath and so we do not breath enough. So thirty trillion cells in our body are suffocated without oxygen. Especially when brain gets less oxygen then we feel tired. Only in sleep we all breath fully and so when the body cells get oxygen, our body gets refreshed. Observe any one sleeping, they will be breathing in and out air very well. When we are sick we become better by taking rest because we breath and supply more oxygen and immediately the body organs can correct themselves. This is the secret of taking rest and healing by the body. So oxygen is called prana, the vital aspect for life. When we are emotional or tensed, or anxious, and do things in a hurry and not aware of our body we breath less and we became tired quickly. When we work in a computer or any sedantary work we breath less. Olden days people did so many manual work and so breathing was natural. Today everyone do time bound sedantary work and breath less and so get so many diseases. When are in deep water you gasp for breath. Understand this is how your cells are all gasping for breath when you are stressed out. Observe how many times you have stopped breathing normally and how much breath awareness you have lost throughout the day. Understand that many hours you have suffocated your cells without oxygen and energy production.

Everyday when we make our cells suffocated without oxygen we cause so many diseases, especially like cancer. This is why great Rishi's developed the great technology of Pranayama. When correctly done hundreds of diseases are cured without even taking any medicines. Name any diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, infertility, depression, etc etc can be cured by doing prayanama alone. See for how pranayama kills cancer cells (Click
here))much more powerful than any medicines.

Do along with the five pancha Bhoota to get quick and complete cure.

Pranayam-Logic
Like other elements, we share the air with all the other living forms in this universe. Without food, the body can survive for some weeks; without water, for few days but without air, only a few seconds. So, air is the most essential component of the five elements that maintain life. The air that we breathe contains oxygen, and in the lungs, the oxygen gets dissolved into the blood. The oxygen is distributed to all the cells of the body in different proportions. When oxygen supply is limited to one particular group of cells or organ, disease(s) manifest. Our emotions also play a role in the amount of oxygen supply to various organs of the body. Through mental agitations blood flow and oxygen supply is altered in one or many organs of the body leading to one or more diseases. Awareness of organs and the flow of blood to the cells through exercise ensures proper oxygen supply to cells. The aim of Air Therapy is to supply the vital oxygen in correct amount. Ancient Indian healing systems understood that improper breathing could lead to many disturbances in the body. This can be corrected by a breathing technique called Pranayam. The vital force in the body is called Praana and the procedure is called Pranayam.

Pranayam is popularly known as a breathing exercise. In fact, it is a breathing exercise but there is more to it than that. In the Indian yoga system, Pranayam is one of the yogic techniques to master the mind. Though this technique offers health benefits, in its culmination it helps one to progress on the spiritual path. We use Pranayam in Pancha Bhoota Healing to maintain or restore good health and also to show a connection between mind and body which is a key factor in self healing. In Pranayam, breathing with awareness anchors the wandering mind to focus on the breath. Since the mind is now available, the awareness of the breath connects the body and mind. This mind-body connection allows proper blood flow and oxygen supply to all the cells of the body leading to good health. When the mind stays in tune with the body through the connection of the breath, it leads to mind control. This deliberate attention of the mind on the breath is an easier way to control the wandering mind. This is why starting with Pranayam helps in meditating.

While doing Pranayam, focus on the breath and be aware of the whole body filled with oxygen which is distributed throughout the cells of the body. All the cells are thus energized with the proper supply of oxygen and are healthy.

Insufficient Breathing
Praana in Sanskrit means Life Force. Normally we inhale only very little air compared to the capacity of the lungs. We never breathe to the full volume of the lungs. Another problem is that the breathing is not equal through both the nostrils. When brain cells get enough oxygen and blood supply, memory improves and enhances the performance of brain functions which causes enhanced physical performance as well.

Air Therapy for Purification of Body and Mind

Pranayam -Air to Clean the Body
Live cells produce waste products like carbon dioxide. Increased blood circulation removes this waste and makes the cells healthy again. This is attained by Pranayam. If garbage in the house is regularly removed, the house will not stink and roaches and other diseaseproducing microbes will be unable to set up base. Similarly, our body (the home in which the soul dwells) should be rid of all garbage to maintain good health.

Pranayam-Air to Bring Awareness to the Mind

This is the real purpose of Pranayam. Without food, the body can survive for a few weeks; without water, for a few days; but without air, only a few seconds. So, air is the most essential component of the five elements that maintain life. The moment air is lacking, our whole awareness shifts to our breath. In water or places where oxygen supply is less, we gasp for air and no other thought enters our mind other than air for breathing. So air, in a way, controls our thoughts. This aspect is exploited in Pranayam. We deliberately control the flow of air through our nostrils and by doing so we bring our thoughts to focus on the breath. This is the moment we can watch our thoughts and bring ourselves to a state of awareness. Hence, Pranayam is a good method for strengthening our awareness. Focus of mind helps the flow of thoughts and Pranayam helps in accomplishing that. Here the focus of our mind is on the thought of breath. Hence, the wandering mind can be brought under control to focus through Pranayam. And finally you have body-mind coordination through Pranayam and purity of both the mind and the body. Step 1: Do Pranayam at the physical level of regulating your breathing through the nostrils. Step 2: Once you have practiced the method at the physical level, slowly start to watch your thoughts that are aware of the breathing. Do this for a while until you are able to watch your thoughts.

Step 3:The final stage is when you are able to witness yourself watching your thoughts. This is pure awareness. This is the state of getting all inspiration for work, healing and success of material needs or spiritual needs. This is the real purpose of Pranayam and our ultimate goal.

Air Therapy : Pranayam First Level

Pranayam
To do Pranayam, sit relaxed in a well-ventilated place, preferably in a garden or near a tree. Sit on a chair or on the floor. Sit relaxed and try to calm down for a few minutes. Keep your body straight, backbone stiff, head up, chest out, eyes facing in front. Place the right thumb on the right nostril, and inhale slowly through the left nostril. Keep inhaling slowly, until you feel at ease, as long as you conveniently can. While inhaling, let the mind not be vacant. Observe the very act of you inhaling. As days go by you will be able to witness yourself watching the breath and your thoughts. When you think you have inhaled to your best ability close the left nostril, through which you were inhaling, with two middle fingers. Thus when you closed both the nostrils, do not let the breath escape through the mouth; keep the inhaled breath within you in the lungs, in the stomach, in the abdomen; all the cavities being filled with air, the air which you have inhaled. When the breathed air is within you, let the mind not be vacant. Observe the very act of you holding the air. As days go with this practice you will be able to witness yourself watching the breath and your thoughts. Your mind will wander but keep observing the thoughts. When you think that you cannot hold the breath any longer, then, keeping the left nostril closed, open the right nostril slowly, gradually exhale through the right nostril. Here let the mind not be vacant; let it observe the very act of exhaling. When you have exhaled, when you have breathed out as far as you conveniently can, take off the hand from your nose; don't allow the air to come in for sometime, for as long as you can, and while, by your efforts the air is not allowed to enter the lungs through the nostrils, let the mind again observe the whole process. Then allow the breath to fill your nostrils. Inhale and exhale just as you would inhale and exhale rapidly after taking a long walk. This natural inhalation and exhalation which will go on very rapidly is Pranayam by itself. This is our natural Pranayam. After resting, by allowing your lungs to inhale and exhale for sometime, begin again.

Thus in this Pranayam, you went through four steps, both physical and mental: The first step was inhaling. The inhaling part was the physical process, and observing was a mental process. Again, while you kept the breath in your lungs, there was a double process, the physical process of keeping it in your lungs, and the mental process of observing.

In the third step, you exhaled through the right nostril. Then there was the fourth step of keeping the breath outside. Thus the first half of Pranayam is done with this fourth step: One-half is finished. Now begin again, not with the left nostril but with the right one. Mental process is the same as before. Inhale through the right nostril, and while inhaling, observe the very act of inhaling. After inhaling to your fill, as long as you conveniently can, keep the breath within you and observe your thoughts. After that, exhale through the left nostril. Follow as you did with the left nostril.

These eight steps form Pranayam. Try to lengthen every one of these steps as long as you can. This is harmonious motion; just as a pendulum has got double oscillation, so here you have to make a pendulum of your breath. This sharpens the witnessing aspect of your awareness.

Air Therapy : Pranayam Second Level

This is like the first level except you become more conscious of your thoughts and finally, awareness. Practice the first level for many months until you are comfortable with the technique and then slowly get into this second level for proper mind body coordination.

Steps to practice Pranayam

To practice Pranayam, sit relaxed in a well-ventilated place, preferably in a garden or near a tree. Sit on a chair or on the floor. Sit relaxed and try to calm the mind for a few minutes. Keep your body straight, backbone stiff, head up, chest out, eyes front. Place the right thumb on the right nostril, and inhale slowly through the left nostril. Keep inhaling slowly, until you feel at ease, as long as you conveniently can. While inhaling, let the mind not be vacant. Observe the very act of you inhaling. As days go by you will be able to witness yourself watching the breath and your thoughts. When you think you have inhaled to your best ability close the left nostril, through which you were inhaling, with the two middle fingers. Thus, when you close both nostrils, let not the breath escape through the mouth; retain the inhaled breath within you in the lungs, in the stomach, in the abdomen; all the cavities being filled with air, the air which you have inhaled. While in this position, let the mind not be vacant. Observe the very act of you holding the air. As days go bywith this practice you will be able to witness yourself watching the breath and your thoughts. Your mind will wander but keep observing the thoughts.

When you think that you cannot hold the breath any longer, then, keeping the left nostril closed, open the right nostril slowly, gradually exhaling through the right nostril. Here, let the mind not be vacant; let it observe the very act of exhaling. When you have exhaled, when you have breathed out as far as you conveniently can take the hand from your nose; don't allow air to come in for sometime, for as long as you can, and while, by your efforts, the air is not allowed to enter the lungs through the nostrils, let the mind again observe the whole process. Then allow the breath to fill your nostrils. Inhale and exhale just as you would inhale and exhale rapidly after taking a long walk. This natural inhalation and exhalation which will go on very rapidly is Pranayam by itself. This is our natural Pranayam.

Thus in this Pranayam, you went through four steps, both physical and mental. The first step was inhaling. The inhaling part was the physical process, and observing was the mental process. Again, while you kept the breath in your lungs, there was a double process, the physical process of holding the breath in your lungs, and the mental process of observing. In the third step, you exhaled through the right nostril and then there was the fourth step of not breathing. This is the first half of Pranayam. One half is finished with the four steps. Now begin again, with the right nostril. Mental process is the same as before. Inhale through the right nostril, and while inhaling, observe the very act of inhaling and after inhaling to your fill, as long as you conveniently can, hold the breath within you and observe your thoughts. After that exhale through the left nostril. Follow as you did with the left nostril.

These eight steps form Pranayam. Try to lengthen every one of these steps as long as you can. This is harmonious motion; just as a pendulum has got double oscillation, so here you have to make a pendulum of your breath, harmonious motion. This sharpens the witnessing aspect of your awareness. Source: Adopted from In Woods of God-Realization - Swami Ram Tirtha.

Benefits of Pranayam
Improves air circulation in the body Removes toxins and purifies the body and maintains good health. Enhances brain functions Relieves many symptoms of diseases Helps to observe thoughts and be in the awareness state (present).

A Word of Caution
When people begin to practice Pranayam, most of them fall sick. The reason is that they do not adopt the natural course. They inhale and exhale for such long intervals that it makes them sick. Be natural in every part of this breathing process. Make efforts, do your best to lengthen every process, but do not fatigue yourself. If, after performing only the first two processes, say, the inhalation and keeping the breath in your lungs you feel tired, stop. You are under no obligation. The next day be more considerate continue the remaining processes; be judicious. This is the favorable method of controlling the breath. Pranayam is

a kind of physical exercise;it has no mystical, divine meaning.

How Pranayam Works

There are many scientific studies showing that Pranayam influences cognition, hypertension, acts as a stress reliever, helps in overcoming depression etc. Dr. Shannahoff-Khalsa and his colleagues at the University of California, Davis quoted This yogic breathing technique may have useful application in treating psycho-physiological disorders with hemispheric imbalances and disorders with autonomic abnormalities" (International Journal of Neurosciences, 1993 Nov;73(1-2):61-8). These effects are due to the influence of the forced air on a spot in the nostril which triggers effects in the brain. Another scientific aspect of Pranayam is that it brings a positive feeling in the individual which is a very important factor in healing. The more optimistic the attitude the better the healing. The atmosphere we breathe normally is full of positive and negative ions. Air conditioning, lack of ventilation, and long dry spells remove negative ions, which usually serve to latch onto airborne dirt particles and wrestle them to the floor, rendering the air purer. Roughly one-third of the population seems to be particularly sensitive to negative ion depletion. The proportion of negative ions is highest around moving water -storms, oceans, rivers and waterfalls. It's no wonder that we feel so energized at the beach! The best ratios of negative to positive ions are associated with waterfalls and the time before, during, and after storms. The worst are found in windowless rooms and closed, moving vehicles. Air purifiers work typically by emitting negative ions, which purify the room air by attaching to impurities and making them sink. High concentrations of negative ions are essential for high energy and a positive mood. In fact, Marian Diamond, a professor of Neuro-Anatomy at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that levels of negative ions are inversely related to levels of serotonin in the brain. Negative ions suppress serotonin levels in much the same way that natural sunlight suppresses melatonin. Hence,the invigorating effect of fresh air and sunshine and the correspondingly depressed feelings associated with being in a closed and dark space! If you deplete the air of negative ions, you experience an increase in serotonin and its attendant drowsiness and relaxationnot exactly what you need when mental agility is demanded of you. Diamond's research, along with other information on ions, is summarized in Yepsen (1987).

Pranayam and Positivity

In an interesting twist, Josh Backon, a member of the Department of Cardiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, writes in an internet posting (email address is backon@vms.huji.ac.il) that in order to increase left hemisphere activity (linear, language, logical), one can block the left nostril and engage in "forced unilateral nostril breathing." Likewise, to increase right hemisphere activity (creative, holistic, emotional), the right nostril should be blocked. This practice increases the supply of negative ions to a specific hemisphere. (The above information is from the Negative Ion Information center.

Pranayam and Bio Feedback Therapy

After mastering Pranayam, combine it with bio feedback therapy. When you inhale fresh air, feel that you are inhaling the air to heal yourself. When you hold the air, feel that the air is going to the region or organ of your illness and feel this air removing all the toxins and other impurities. Feel that organ or tissue becoming healthy. Feel the love towards that organ. Feel the nurturing action, as you would nurture your sick child. Gently rub your hand

externally over the region of illness with love as you would rub your childs body when he is sick. This gives immense power to the organ to heal. We have personal experience of patients who did this and attained remarkable healing. Not only during Pranayam,

How Pranayam Works

Pranayam at a higher level of consciousness.
Getting connected to nature increases healing power. Understand that the air you breathe comes from trees and other plants around you. Feel the pure air and become one with the trees and plants. Give thanks in your mind to those oxygen givers for healing your body. Understand you are a part of nature as the trees and plants. This feeling of oneness or connectedness relieves all the stress in the body and strengthens your healing force. It is best to do Pranayam in a garden or at least before an indoor plant. Ask the plant(s) or tree(s) to give out healing oxygen and cleanse the disease(s) in your body. Imagine the plant or tree giving you healing oxygen and you are healed. This gives you positive vibrations and plants are known to take away our negative vibrations. You will get connected to the plant(s) and your awareness increases. The air we breathe has many functions in the body; the oxygen we breathe in is an electron acceptor in all metabolic reactions. The food we eat is for deriving energy for doing action. Without energy, nothing will move. The food we eat has to be broken down (oxidized) to derive energy. In this process an electron that originally came from water goes back to water itself. You will understand why our body needs oxygen by understanding how plants synthesize food (please refer to fire therapy section).

Feeling Oneness
The awareness then extends from the body to the universe and feels one with everything. This is a prerequisite for the ego-mind to dissolve and transcend all limitations imposed by the very own ego-mind.

Air Therapy FAQ

1. 2. 3. 4. Should it be done every day? If yes, when is the best time? How do I do Pranayam as a part of Pancha Bhoota healing? Are there problems associated with the practice of Pranayam? What are the benefits of Pranayam?

Should Pranayam be done every day? If yes when is the best time? Yes, it is good to do Pranayam every day. Every morning and/or evening, for 5 to 10 minutes. Morning is better because the mind is less agitated. However, time is not a factor. Whenever you can find time to sit and practice for 5 to 10 minutes, do it. Place is also not a concern, but a well-ventilated place is the best. Top

How do I do Pranayam as a part of Pancha Bhoota healing? Pranayam is a part of Pancha Bhoota and if coupled with the other four elements of healing, gives much better healing results. It could be done after water therapy in the morning and before or after the Pancha Bhoota yoga. If you do not have time then it can be practiced in the evening, even though morning is a better time. Top Are there problems associated with the practice of Pranayam?. Yes; and the reason is that most people do not adopt the natural course. They begin to inhale and exhale for long intervals and that makes them sick. Be natural in every part of this breathing process. Make efforts, do your best to lengthen every process, but do not fatigue yourself. If after performing only the first two processes, say, the inhalation and keeping the breath in your lungs you feel tired, stop. You are under no obligation. The next day be more considerate; continue with the remaining processes; be judicious.

Benefits of Pranayam Improves air circulation in the body Removes toxins and purifies the body and maintains good health. Enhances brain functions Relieves many symptoms of diseases Helps to observe thoughts and be in the awareness state (present).

Health Air-Cycle
Going through the fourth cycle of the Air element, the awareness is strengthened and deeper. Keep doing these exercises regularly.

This completes the fourth cycle of going around the health loop. If you are ready, you can now proceed to the fifth round of space element