Guidelines To Practice Pranayam
- Never practice in full stomach.
- Pregnant women and people in scarlet fever or normal fever should not do extensive practice of Pranayam.
- Posture maintenance is very important to gain maximum benefit from the Pranayam.
- Keep the back straight, chin parallel to floor, jaw relaxed.
- Person who is very weak should abstain from Bhastrika. Sheetkari and Shitali Pranayam should be avoided in the morning and evening of winters, while Bhastrika should be avoided in summers.
- One should not practice in a damp, foul smelling place, closet.
- The best time for practicing is early morning or just after the sunset.
One should practice in clean, silent and comfortable place. - One should sit in meditative pose or on a chair.
- It is advisable to take woolen Asana or the same covered with silk cloth to check the loss of prana.
- It is always good and advisable to perform Pranayam with closed eyes.
- One should lubricate the openings of the body (nose/ ear/ navel/ anus) before or after doing Pranayam which would otherwise lead to friction, heat, dehydration and dryness (preferably with almond oil/ mustard oil/ clarified butter).
- Do not practice when tired or exhausted.
- One should drink lots of water to avoid constipation.
- Person with high blood pressure or having cardiac difficulties should not hold the breath (Kumbhaka).
- One should start the practice with short duration and gradually increase to one hour preceding or following Asanas.
- One should have thorough knowledge of the Pranayam before attempting it directly from the matter written in the book. It is always advisable to learn them personally through some knowledgeable instructor or Guru.
- Always perform the Pranayam with affirmative thoughts to double their benefits