We live in a sound-bite age. Pranayama, also known as yogic breathing, is a method of calming the breath. Prana is defined as the air flowing through the body. Pranayama is made up of three parts: controlled inhalation, controlled exhalation, and exhalation. When you do all three parts, it is called sahitya, whereas doing without the other two just holding the breath is called keval.The amount of air that you can exhale through deep exhalation after a deep inhalation is called as Vital Capacity. Dividing this number by the weight of the body gives you the Vital Index, which shows the capacity to breathe as well as the vitality of the body and its efficiency in the bodys functions. Regular practice of yogic breathing has been shown to increase yogic breathing. This raises the vitality of the body and efficiency of the bodily functions. With over 84,000 poses in yoga to choose from to practice, yoga enthusiasts and practitioners can get confused as to which ones are most important. With our daily demands and commitments, most of us may not have time to do so many poses so we should focus on the one which is most beneficial for daily practice and that is the shoulder-stand (in Sanskrit Known as Savanasana). This is my recommended favorite of inverted poses. Its spontaneity and reminder that as a kid, you've tried it before, makes it one I emphasize even more than the headstand you may be familiar with because they're afraid of standing on your head. Almost all do not share the same benefits. Inverted asanas reverse the action of gravity on the body. Instead of everything being drawn to the feet, the orientation shifts to the head. On an emotional level, the shoulder stand turns everything upside down, shedding a new light on old patterns of behavior. It improves health, reduces stress and anxiety and increases mental strength and confidence. In addition, the abdominal organs, liver, spleen, stomach, kidneys and pancreas receive a powerful massage which helps them to function optimally. In Sanskrit, Sarvanga means all the organs, as the name suggests, it affects all the body parts. It stimulates the thyroid gland, balancing the circulatory, digestive, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems. It is really a panacea, a cure for all. Obesity and fatness are reduced by this mudra, as well as constipation and enlargement of liver and spleen are also reduced. It is best practiced with counter poses over specific periods for maximum efficiency and when planned correctly, the entire sequence can take less than 6 minutes to complete, depending on your schedule. Personally, I make point as a practitioner to incorporate the sequence into my daily regimen along with other forms of exercise, but I always put the most emphasis on this one pose for all the above benefits. So the next time you're unsure about which pose you need to incorporate into your session on the go, make it a point to go for the shoulder-stand.
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