The Danger of Overemphasizing Inward Breaths in Pranayama

2 years ago By Yogi Anoop

The Danger of Overemphasizing Inward Breaths in Pranayama.

 Yogi Anoop recommends a more balanced approach to pranayama that emphasizes regulating the breath rather than solely focusing on deep, inward breaths. According to Yogi Anoop, The meaning of taking a breath inward is not just an increase in oxygen. Generally, Pranayama experts emphasize taking deep and inward breaths during pranayama. They advise to fill the lungs as much as possible during pranayama and exhale as much as you can. According to them, this is the fundamental nature of pranayama. However, I refute this system of pranayama from an experiential and practical perspective.

In my experience, this perspective is very dangerous. It not only has adverse effects on the lungs and bloodstream but also confuses the mind and intellect. This is because the focus is solely on inhaling and exhaling.

Through this process of pranayama, one cannot change the tendencies of the mind because the mind is not utilizing any understanding while filling the lungs. People who practice pranayama in this erratic manner develop the habit of overeating. The goal of pranayama is to teach management, not just inhaling and exhaling. That is why regular people who practice pranayama in this manner are unable to achieve any significant change within themselves.

Note that just as the person who closes their eyes and fills their lungs, they will also fill themselves with food. Therefore, I do not recommend excessive blind practice of pranayama such as Bhastrika. Although even the sages did not call this type of pranayama spiritual pranayama.

The goal of pranayama is to regulate the breath. The truth is that by regulating the breath, one can regulate oneself. The breath should be taken in such a way that the mind gains knowledge of this regulation. The mind should gain so much knowledge through these breaths that it knows how to use patience not just for breathing, but for any object taken inside. The truth is that when taking a breath, the mind must be taught to be patient. When taking in anything, the most patience should be used. Otherwise, even if you fill the lungs with a lot of air, you cannot digest it. Just as no matter how good the food is, if you try to fill your stomach with more than it needs, it will upset your digestion. In the same way, in pranayama, one should give up the illusion of taking in the breath in excessive quantities.

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