Does The Act of Exhaling & Holding The Breath Outside Lead To A Still Mind ?

1 year ago By Yogi Anoop

Does The Act of Exhaling & Holding The Breath Outside Lead To A Still Mind ?

  According to Sage Patanjali, the practice of Pranayama leads to a peaceful mind by holding the breath outside. There are two ways to hold the breath - one is to hold the breath inside, which is called Antara Kumbhaka, and the other is to exhale and hold the breath outside as much as possible, which is called “Vahya Kumbhaka”.

Understanding the scientific reasoning behind Vahya Kumbhaka is essential. When the breath is exhaled and held outside for a short time, the lungs start to feel the lack of air. This leads to discomfort in the Lungs, and the body uses energy to pull the breath in. Ultimately, when the breath is allowed inside, not only the lungs but also all parts of the body that were lacking in oxygen now get the required supply. In fact, in this state, all organs supply maximum prana.

Therefore, the practice of Vahya Kumbhaka in Pranayama leads to a still mind as it brings balance and harmony to the whole body, providing the necessary oxygen and energy to all organs.

From a clinical perspective, there are many benefits to pranayama for physical health as well as achieving mental stability. However, in my experience, it is also true that pranayama does not lead to much spiritual progress because it is a kind of Hatha-Yoga process in which detoxification is being done forcibly. In contrast, in the spiritual path, there is no effort made in the process of detoxification. It happens effortlessly, like deep sleep.

An example can be understood here. If excessive pressure is applied to the stomach to cleanse it, the likelihood of other related diseases such as piles, rectum diseases and high blood pressure also increases along with constipation. The head begins to feel heavy, etc., which persists for a long time.

Similarly, forcing and exerting too much pressure on the lungs can create heat problems for the nerves. I myself have suffered from this. Therefore, such pranayama should be done only under the guidance of an experienced guru for a short period of time, otherwise the likelihood of other problems increases.

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