Psychophysiological Effects and the Applications of Yoga Breathing Practices

Abstract

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India and aims at purifying the mind for spiritual progress. In modern times yoga is widely practiced for general health and well-being as well as for therapeutic reasons. Voluntary breath regulation or pranayama has been given significant importance in traditional texts as well as by yoga masters. Research has shown beneficial effects of yoga breathing practices or pranayamas on neurocognitive, metabolic, respiratory, and autonomic functions, which are discussed in the chapter. The chapter also discusses the applications of these practices for the management of various clinical conditions as well as for alleviating psychological problems associated with particular illnesses. The beneficial effects of yoga breathing practices demonstrate the importance of these safe and cost effective non-pharmacological interventions for general health as well as for prevention and management of various diseases.

Breathing Right… or Left! The Effects of Unilateral Nostril Breathing on Psychological and Cognitive Wellbeing: A Pilot Study

“…Their balance changes based on the nasal cycle, but it can be modulated by directing breathing through pranayama techniques (from the Sanskrit word "prana", meaning life energy, and "yama", meaning control). In detail, anuloma-viloma pranayama can influence the activity of the cerebral hemispheres [13] and corresponding psychophysical states [14], and it can be carried out by voluntarily breathing through only one nostril and closing the other with the fingers of the dominant hand [15].…”