Kumbhaka
Encyclopedia
Yoga and pranayama are the most accepted holistic exercises for (possible) absolute health as explained by biopsychosocial model
. Pranayama is the breathing exercise highly recommended for various physiological and psychological disorders. Kumbhaka forms the basis of deepest breathing exercises (Pranayama) required to regulate the activities of mind
and increase the concentration.
It is ceasing of breath when the inhalation
(or Poorak) is complete and the lungs are filled up with air. In this kumbhaka, inhalation is recommended to be slightly forceful to take more air than normal and ceasing it as per one's ability.
Bahya Kumbhak
It is ceasing of breath when the exhalation
(or Rechak) is complete. It is also recommended to exhale more than normal and then cease it as per one's ability.
Sahit Kumbhak
It is the kumbhaka performed with inhalation or exhalation.
Kevali Kumbhak
Inhalation or exhalation is not required or not focussed in exercising Kevali Kumbhaka. It is the extreme stage of Kumbhaka which is attained only by continuous long term pranayama and kumbhak exercises.
and exhalation
. In between these two processes there is a very minute gap or pause (normally in miniseconds) which is usually not noticed and it recurs, i.e, inhalation-pause-exhalation-pause-inhalation.... and it continues. The maximum gap or pause is observed in the state of rest
. Kumbhak enforces to increase the pause by ceasing the breath routinely and continuously by various types of pranayama and kumbhaka exercises.
It is being observed that more the time spent for pranayama (and kumbhaka); more is the concentration and better is the control over mind. Various ancient yogis (expert in yoga and pranayama) noticed the importance of respiration
and its correlation
with activities of mind and vital forces. Aging is also seen proportional to frequency of respiration or respiratory rate
, i.e, frequency of inhalation and exhalation in one minute. Medical science recorded normal respiratory rate in humans as 12-16 breaths per minute with life span of 70–80 years. These figures may vary due to geographical, communal and other distribution factors.
Though the level of consciousness varies from species to species
, it is seen highest in humans where conscious mind can provoke to perform activities and exercises as per wishes and this voluntary performance is not up to such an extent in any other species and consequently all other species cannot cease their breath as and when desired (voluntarily). Some species (e.g, whales) can take enormous air and cease it for a long time but that is spontaneous
requirement and involuntary; and it is the necessity for them to survive
this way.
Practicing kumbhaka for a long time increases endurance of physiological as well as psychological structure of an individual. Continuous and long term practicing increases the hold or control on breath up to an extent where it reaches to its extreme stage (Kevali Kumbhak) and the respiration is ceased permanently unless desired to get into normal state.
Aging is proportional to metabolism which in turn is proportional to respiratory rate. Metabolism lowers down as the respiratory rate decreases and this helps prevent aging or at least lowers down the process. It has not been recorded scientifically whether kevali kumbhaka can increase age (or can make immortality a fact) by lowering down the basic reactions which support life, however, various yoga sutras and religious scriptures define samadhi
and immortality
an approachable dreams for determined individuals.
Biopsychosocial model
The biopsychosocial model is a general model or approach that posits that biological, psychological , and social factors, all play a significant role in human functioning in the context of disease or illness...
. Pranayama is the breathing exercise highly recommended for various physiological and psychological disorders. Kumbhaka forms the basis of deepest breathing exercises (Pranayama) required to regulate the activities of mind
Mind
The concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
and increase the concentration.
Definition
"Voluntary cessation of breath." It has been given higher importance than any other yogic exercises for cessation of mind and to attain samadhi in various yoga scriptures.Types of Kumbhaka
Antar KumbhakaIt is ceasing of breath when the inhalation
Inhalation
Inhalation is the movement of air from the external environment, through the air ways, and into the alveoli....
(or Poorak) is complete and the lungs are filled up with air. In this kumbhaka, inhalation is recommended to be slightly forceful to take more air than normal and ceasing it as per one's ability.
Bahya Kumbhak
It is ceasing of breath when the exhalation
Exhalation
Exhalation is the movement of air out of the bronchial tubes, through the airways, to the external environment during breathing....
(or Rechak) is complete. It is also recommended to exhale more than normal and then cease it as per one's ability.
Sahit Kumbhak
It is the kumbhaka performed with inhalation or exhalation.
Kevali Kumbhak
Inhalation or exhalation is not required or not focussed in exercising Kevali Kumbhaka. It is the extreme stage of Kumbhaka which is attained only by continuous long term pranayama and kumbhak exercises.
Importance of Kumbhaka
Respiration includes inhalationInhalation
Inhalation is the movement of air from the external environment, through the air ways, and into the alveoli....
and exhalation
Exhalation
Exhalation is the movement of air out of the bronchial tubes, through the airways, to the external environment during breathing....
. In between these two processes there is a very minute gap or pause (normally in miniseconds) which is usually not noticed and it recurs, i.e, inhalation-pause-exhalation-pause-inhalation.... and it continues. The maximum gap or pause is observed in the state of rest
Rest
Rest may refer to:* Leisure* Human relaxation* SleepRest may also refer to:* Rest , a pause in a piece of music* Rest , the relation between two observers* Rest , a 2008 album by Gregor Samsa...
. Kumbhak enforces to increase the pause by ceasing the breath routinely and continuously by various types of pranayama and kumbhaka exercises.
It is being observed that more the time spent for pranayama (and kumbhaka); more is the concentration and better is the control over mind. Various ancient yogis (expert in yoga and pranayama) noticed the importance of respiration
Respiration (physiology)
'In physiology, respiration is defined as the transport of oxygen from the outside air to the cells within tissues, and the transport of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction...
and its correlation
Correlation
In statistics, dependence refers to any statistical relationship between two random variables or two sets of data. Correlation refers to any of a broad class of statistical relationships involving dependence....
with activities of mind and vital forces. Aging is also seen proportional to frequency of respiration or respiratory rate
Respiratory rate
Respiratory rate is also known by respiration rate, pulmonary ventilation rate, ventilation rate, or breathing frequency is the number of breaths taken within a set amount of time, typically 60 seconds....
, i.e, frequency of inhalation and exhalation in one minute. Medical science recorded normal respiratory rate in humans as 12-16 breaths per minute with life span of 70–80 years. These figures may vary due to geographical, communal and other distribution factors.
Kumbhaka and immortality
Aging is proportional to respiratory rate (excluding exceptions), e.g,- Mouse: Respiratory rate = 60-230/min and Life span = 1.5-3.0 years http://research.uiowa.edu/
- Rabbit: Respiratory rate = 30-60/min and Life span = 5.0-6.0 years http://research.uiowa.edu/
- Monkey: Respiratory rate = 30-50/min and Life span = 20–30 years http://www.uthsc.edu/
- Human: Respiratory rate = 12-16/min and Life span = 70–80 years
- Whales: Respiratory rate = 3-5/min http://www.bio.davidson.edu/ and Life span = more than 100 years
Though the level of consciousness varies from species to species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, it is seen highest in humans where conscious mind can provoke to perform activities and exercises as per wishes and this voluntary performance is not up to such an extent in any other species and consequently all other species cannot cease their breath as and when desired (voluntarily). Some species (e.g, whales) can take enormous air and cease it for a long time but that is spontaneous
Spontaneous
Spontaneous* Spontaneous abortion* Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis* Spontaneous combustion* Spontaneous emission* Spontaneous fission* Spontaneous generation* Spontaneous human combustion* Spontaneous Music Ensemble* Spontaneous order...
requirement and involuntary; and it is the necessity for them to survive
Survive
Survive is the verb form of survival, and may also refer to:*Survive *Survive , or the title song*Survive *Survive , or the title song*"Survive"...
this way.
Practicing kumbhaka for a long time increases endurance of physiological as well as psychological structure of an individual. Continuous and long term practicing increases the hold or control on breath up to an extent where it reaches to its extreme stage (Kevali Kumbhak) and the respiration is ceased permanently unless desired to get into normal state.
Aging is proportional to metabolism which in turn is proportional to respiratory rate. Metabolism lowers down as the respiratory rate decreases and this helps prevent aging or at least lowers down the process. It has not been recorded scientifically whether kevali kumbhaka can increase age (or can make immortality a fact) by lowering down the basic reactions which support life, however, various yoga sutras and religious scriptures define samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
and immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
an approachable dreams for determined individuals.
See also
- YogaYogaYoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
- PranayamaPranayamaPranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "extension of the prana or breath" or more accurately, "extension of the life force". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to extend, draw out, restrain, or...
- Hatha yogaHatha yogaHatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
- Raja yogaRaja YogaRāja Yoga is concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using meditation to further one's acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation.Raja yoga was first described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and is part of the Samkhya tradition.In the context of Hindu...
- Upanishads
- ImmortalityImmortalityImmortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
- MindMindThe concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
- Respiration (physiology)Respiration (physiology)'In physiology, respiration is defined as the transport of oxygen from the outside air to the cells within tissues, and the transport of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction...