Pranayam is that part of Yoga that deals with breathing. Pranayam is the breathing process or the controlled manner of inhalation, exhalation and retention of vital energy force.  Air is necessary not only to breathe but also for the proper functioning of the body parts. While we can survive without food and water for many days we will not be able to live without air for even an hour. All the tissues would also be destroyed if the supply of air is cut off.

Hindus have realized the importance of this element very long ago and have insisted on the proper way of inhaling and also exhaling this vital element. They have its importance written in many of their holy books among which Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is the best example.  To accommodate the importance of air in the body here follows a short story.

One day it happened that all the senses of the body quarreled among them selves each is stating it to be the most necessary organ in the body. Unable to come to a conclusion they went to Brahma – the creator and put the dispute in front of him. Brahma said,” that organ is the most important without which the body suffers the most is the most important.”

Eye was the first to move and returned after one year. It enquired,”How did you live without me?” The body replied,”Like a blind man I was not able to enjoy the Mother Nature”

Next to go was the ear. When he returned after a year the body replied, “I lived like a deaf person. We stayed and accepted whatever people said.” The next to go was the mind and when returned got the answer,” Lived like a fool. We were like fools without you and remained a dumb person.”

When the seed left and returned after a year the body replied,” We lived like a person without any talent.”

Lastly it was the turn of the breath to leave. At the moment it departed it destroyed the other senses too all the senses started to shout unanimously, “Sir, we request you not to leave as we will be dumb without you.”

This proves that it is the breath which dominates each and every cell and tissues present in the body.

Swami Ram Dev has been promising that he has the cure for all diseases and illness known to mankind from diabetes, AIDS, hepatitis and cancer to epilepsy. And all this he will do through Yoga and pranayam. While the skeptics are demanding evidences of such claims, the testimonials from individual who have been cured through Pranayam are keeping on increasing. According to him we can even get rid the world of pharmaceutical medicines through pranayam and ayurveda.

How does Pranayam works?

According to Hinduism, Pran is the creation of the supreme god, Brahma, and its   inherent quality is " Motion&quot. This quality of Pran is felt in Vayu ( air) which is always in motion. The Human body is said to be made of five elements namely- Kasha (space of vacuity), Vayu (air), Agni (fire) Jal (water) and Prithvi (earth).Among all these elements Vayu is important as proved by the story above. It has been said that when you sit in one of the asana and regulate the act of respiration, it is Pranayam. The act of inhaling air in the body so as to reach the lungs, is called inspiration and the act of throwing the air out of the body, is called expiration. When we inhale, it is not only the air or oxygen that enters our body, but along with the air also enters a divine energy which keeps the body alive. Doing pranayam does not mean only taking the air in the body (inhalation) and throwing it out (exhalation), but along with oxygen, we also take in our body the Vital Energy. This Vital Energy permeates the entire universe and what we inhale and exhale is the fragment of it.

There is a sequence of 7 pranayam with allotted time periods for each which has become very well known. Millions have benefited from this simple package of breathe-control exercises. They are

• Nadi Suddi-It is necessary to cure the nadis before commencing any exercise. For this you have to sit in padmasan and take deep breath and breathe out in deep breath.
• Sukha Purvaka-Sit in the padmasan posture. Breathe in with right nostril and hold breath till you count 12 and breathe out by left nostril. Now breathe in by left nostril and hold breath till 12 counts and breathe out by right nostril. Repeat this for 5 times. The ratio between inhaling, retension and exhaling the air should be 1:4:2.In this type of pranayam deep concentration is necessary to be effective. This helps in purification of nadis, improves the concentration power, and improves the digestion power and circulation of blood.
• Bhastrika – Rapid succession of forcible expulsions is a characteristic feature of this exercise. While practicing this type of pranayam you have to keep your mouth closed and inhale and exhale air continuously at least for 20 times. Bhastrika removes inflammation of the throat, increases the gastric fire, and destroys phlegm and all diseases of the nose and lungs and other diseases which arise from the excess of wind.
• Ujjayi- While practicing this type you have to sit comfortably, inhale through both the nostrils and exhale through left nostril by closing the right nostril. This removes the heat from the head.

While all these can be done by the people who are still novice at pranayam the others like Distant healing, Pranic healing and palvini require expertise in pranayam. If you become an expert with distant healing and Pranic healing you can not only cure yourself but also other patients who have the receptacle mind with your pran. These types of healing are called alternative healing and are very effective and give immediate relief to patients.