PRANAYAMA : (Preparation for death with awareness) : -

Life begins with an incoming breath which goes out but keeps returning till the last breath which goes out but does not come in. Thus the practice of observing once breath goes a long way to prepare us for that last breath which goes out but does not come in.

Breath holding after breathing out comes closer to the situation of death. It simulates death. At the time of death when the intangible is leaving the tangible and the breath has gone out and the Prana has abandoned the body there has to be a great turmoil in the body which leads to complete loss of awareness and one dies unaware and unconscious. If one is able to observe the last breath leaving the body there is no total death only physical death.

This type of death wipes out the memories of previous births leading to the continuation of wheel of birth and death. An aware fully conscious death may go a long way in preparation of our future births.

If we observe the changes happening in our body when the breath is out they simulate death although Prana has not actually left the body though it may leave the body if the breath does not come in. This is a time of agitation and uneasiness which we can perceive and feel a little bit before we allow the breath to come in or the breath forces its way in.

Taking the breath in or keeping the breath in , is life as it is the only happening which ensures continuation of life.

SUJAYI PRANAYAM

1. Breathe in with alternate nostrils and breath out with alternate nostrils. Continue till comfortable. Stop immediately with slightest discomfort.

2. Go on breathing in alternately with each nostril till you can take no more of it. Then leave the breath with alternate nostril till you cannot force any more out. Repeat this cycle without any discomfort. In between take normal breaths.

3. Take breath with alternate nostril and hold it for a second in between. Leave the breath out again holding for a second. Do it with great comfort.

4. Take breath with alternate nostril. During the breath holding continue to breathe in against the closed nostril. Breathe out with alternate nostrils. During the breath holding continue to breathe out against the closed nostril. Do not be violent in any breath holding pauses. The forces which we are dealing with are extremely powerful beyond imagination. Slightest discomfort is a signal to either breathe in or breathe out according to the situation.

This Pranayam can be done almost anytime and as many times as it feels comfortable. At no point of time should any kind of discomfort be endured. The duration of each pause has to be comfortable and the installment of air taken in or given out should be comfortable. It varies with the moment in time.

This pranayam influences the space in human body.

CENTRES:
Main centers in the human body are three. Each centre representing one of the three primordial forces in nature. The mooladhar represents Brahma or the force of creation. The nabhi represents Vishnu or the force of maintenance. The ajnya represents the Mahesh or the force of destruction.

The universe is represented by human body and all the three forces are active in the universe. Pranayama is befriending the Prana behind these three primordial forces.

Breathing in is Life or Brahma. Breathing out is Mahesh or destruction. Holding the breath is Vishnu or maintenance. One cannot hold on to any of these positions for long or one is not able to voluntarily prolong the state indefinitely. Prana forces us to alter the state.

Sujayi pranayam takes us to the limit of each of the forces of creation and destruction and the force of maintenance in our body.
At the end of a few cycles of this Pranayam one experiences a state of centering which is a balance of three tangible and intangible elements in our body.
1. Body mind and spirit
2. Satva Raja Tama
3. Brahma Vishnu Mahesh
4. Inside Outside and in between

It has special effect on the coordination faculty of human body or the element of space. Thus the exercises for five elements are as follows :
1. Earth : Strength : Weight training
2. Water : Flexibility: Yoga
3. Fire : Speed : Any kind of sprinting activity
4. Air : Endurance : Any prolonged repetitive activity
5. Space : Coordination : Sujayi Pranayam

CONJECTURES
Sujayi pranayam leads to Prana flowing in Sushumna
Adjusts the intracerebral milieu of both the hemispheres
All energies can operate only in space. This Pranayam offers them space and they can interact with each other and balance each other better.
Skill improves because any skill is essentially an intra and intermuscular coordination in space.