Long and Vigorous Life by Swara Yoga
Controlled and adequate breathing is an essential part of swara yoga. It is advised here that the pace of our inhalation and exhalation should be consistent is every breath. There should also be a pause of few moments between the successive breaths. The depth of a normal healthy breath is about 14-18 cm. That means when we exhale or breathe out is should go out up to this distance. For example, If a piece of cotton attached from one side on a stick is kept about 14-18 cm away straight in the direction of nose, its tiny fibers would quiver when we breathe out. A somewhat shorter length of breathing out is fine but longer one is not good as it amounts to slow breathing and over exhalation, which amounts to reduced supply of oxygen for consumption in the body.
When we sleep this length increases up to 35-45 cm; that is why extra sleep makes one lethargic. A good sleep of 6-7 hour per day is good enough for an adult in general. While we take meal, our exhaled breath in normal case prolongs up to 25-30 cm, therefore eating frequently is also not good. Very long distance of exhaled breath is indicative of a diseased state. For instance, in acute state of tuberculosis it usually extends up to 85-100 cm. Much longer (and hence slower and meeker) exhaled breath is alarming, the longer it becomes, the closer one gets to death; artificial breathing of external supply of oxygen is essential is such cases.
A fast pace of breathing means short depth of inhaled oxygen. It is also risky. It would e like panting which overburdens the respiratory system and the heart. It also signals malfunctioning of the latter and gives rise to restlessness and fatigue.
The swara-vijnana also emphasizes a great deal on the depth of inhaled and exhaled breath. As stated above the normal healthy limits of the breath exhaled is around 14-18 cms. But what we inhale is always shorter than this by 2 to 4 cm. This is a marvelous operation of the self-organized system of nature to control the lifespan. It clearly demonstrates what fraction of vital power we intake is lesser than what we throw out. This is how with every breath our lifespan reduces a bit..... the cycle continues till our stock is over.... Then it is death..
Thus, it is clear that living a complete span of life largely depends upon the breathing pattern. Each one of us is born here with his or her allocated stock of breaths. So naturally the duration of active life would be lesser if we drain out this precious stock intrepidly. This is to convey that adequate breathing at appropriate pace with due care is essential for a full (i.e.healthy and long) life.
On an average, an adult human being breathes about 21,600 times per day. If one breathes deeply to consume adequate amount of oxygen at a consistent pace at a slower than average rate, he or she would enjoy a longer and healthier lifespan in normal case. It is true of the other creatures as well. Look at the respiration rates and the full span of life of the animals ( e.g.the chart below) ; those breathing at slower pace live longer.
Satendra Shrivastava
Yoga Mentor & Therapist
Mob: +91-9826684116
Email: peacefulmind.yogaindia@gmail.com
Web: www.peacefulmind.co.in