Pranayama and Anxiety

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi - Im new to the world of yoga and was interested when I saw Baba Ram Dev (a Guru from india) teaching pranayma and many people claiming to be healed from diseases - he emphasizes khapalbathi and anulom vilom (alternate nostril breathing) - I want to place my emphasis on these two exercises since im a beginner - I suffer from anxiety and I have adrenal fatigue and digestion problems due to the adrenal fatigue - any suggestions as to what I should practice and for how long - im thinking about doing 10 min of khapalbathi and anulom vilom - also about Swami Ram Dev - I dont know if he was misquoted or what but he also claims his Pranayma cures AIDS? Maybe it helps AIDS patients but to think of all the people that practice pranayam this epidimic would be cured if that were so - I want to cure my adrenal fatigue and stress for good and make my skin better which has pre mature aging - any thoughts or suggestions? Also, have any of you here cured any chronic ailments such as Diabetes,High Blood Pressure, Arthritis?

Thank You

#2

Namaste and Welcome.

Yoga is not a system where you can take one element and just focus on that element and practice it, that way you will cause imbalances and more problems for yourself in the long run and soon we shall read your next post in a few months time stating that you have more problems. You already have a few sensitive problems and I want to suggest that you find a good yoga teacher who can assist you through slow and progressive development. Preparation of the physical body through asana is most important for succesful pranayama.

Pranayama is extremely powerful and can really help you with many of your issues, but then it must be attempted in an orderly manner. Will you go and dive with sharks without taking any precautions because someone else tells you it will do you good? No, so the same with pranayama and here asana is the precaution you take.

About the AIDS - you have merely misunderstood his words I think, pranayama cannot heal AIDS, it can just assist the immune system, which will make the person more resistant against infections.

#3

Thanks Pandara! I never knew you couldnt do that - what do you mean when you said you cant just focus on one element? Also, many people just jump into Pranaym but Ram Dev also suggests slow progression as well. What type of yoga and Asanas do you think I should incorporate for a beginner such as myself? I thought Khapalbhati and even Anulom Vilom was good enough for a beginner thats why I just thought those two would be suffice.

Thanks Again!

#4

[quote=SoulX;13200]Thanks Pandara! I never knew you couldnt do that - what do you mean when you said you cant just focus on one element? Also, many people just jump into Pranaym but Ram Dev also suggests slow progression as well. What type of yoga and Asanas do you think I should incorporate for a beginner such as myself? I thought Khapalbhati and even Anulom Vilom was good enough for a beginner thats why I just thought those two would be suffice.

Thanks Again![/quote]

If you just do asana, which is the fourth step in the eight limbs of yoga, you will find certain imbalances will take hold of the physical body, the same with pranayama etc. What about the yamas and the niyamas, step one and two of yoga, have you included them or are you going to exclude them?

Best you find a yoga school and teacher to teach you and the internet is not sufficient enough to replace a good teacher.

#5

Dear Soul X,
Very wise thing to start with yoga. It will sure bring you good things.
i strongly advice you against doing any pranayama or kapalabhati ( which in fact i consider a kriya technique) without the guidance of a teacher and without the proper preparation.
I have had a burnout syndrom and know a lot about fatigue , also about anxiety and panic attacks, because i sufferd from depressions and PTS.

I know for sure that kapalbhati - if not performed right will make your problem of anxiety bigger as ever.
The breath is connected with the feedback system of hormones like adrenaline for fight fright freeze. If you do kapalbhati you exhaust the system more.
Start easy on yoga with the right things ( like gentle joint free serie) and under guidance of a good teacher , only then it will sure bring you great benifit.
You could do ( a little) alternat nostril breating, that is safe. Do not hold your breath or strain it in any way. Do not use force on your breath. Listen to what your body is telling very carefully.
And you could do a lot of relaxing, nice slow walks in nature, give your body a nice massage with oil of sesam, that is very good for reducing stress.

I am sure Ram Dev means every one with a proper asana training can do pranayama safe. But not the unprepared, like you are

Sending you Love and Light
pleace take care
Louise

#6

[quote=louise molenkamp;13203]
I am sure Ram Dev means every one with a proper asana training can do pranayama safe. But not the unprepared, like you are.[/quote]

Must agree here with Louise.

#7

Kapalabhati is not only ill-advised for a beginner as a result of malalignment in the physical body but it is also not a very sound protocol for anxiety. Please consider Viloma I instead.

Additionally, pranayama should be learned from a highly trained and experienced yoga teacher. It should be learned through what are typically referred to as “contact hours”. So I suggest you go sit with Baba Ram Dev or find another whom you can sit with.

#8

Hi soul X,
I do not know if your anxiety only happens after doing kapalbhati or does it happen anyway?
Like we all said before it is not wise to do kapalbhati at this point.
i do know a remedy you can use when you have anxiety ( original flower remedies Bach; it is called rescue remedy) i used it sometimes and it helps very well.
It does not suppres anything but gives you the state of mind you can look into your problems.
with love and light
louise