Acharya Mahaprajna
Several methods of breathing such as rhythmical (layabaddha) breathing and long (deergha) breathing and so on. With regard to the process of kayotsarga or the relaxation of the body to make it completely free from motion and tension, it has been repeatedly said that the inhalation as well as exhalation should be slow. The pace of breathing should not be fast but prolonged. Long breathing and slow breathing mean the same thing. Kayotsarga would not be achieved unless the breathing is slow. Kayotsarga is in slow breathing and slow breathing is in Kayotsarga. Kayotsarga cannot be successful if the breathing is fast. It would not be possible to release the body. The breathing is the parameter of kayotsarga. If the breathing is proper, there would be proper kayotsarga. If the breathing is not proper, kayotsarga would not be proper either.
Our breathing is the medium through which oxygen is supplied to the body. But the breathing has to be slow and prolonged. The breathing also gives rest to the brain and the body. What the medicines used as tranquillisers cannot do is done through proper breathing. If the breathing does not follow the proper pace, more and more medicines would be used and their effective power would go on decreasing. Breathe properly if you are feeling fatigue or your mind is disturbed. It would give you relief. If your mind has been shaken on account of a particular incident, practise slow breathing for ten minutes and you would feel less disturbed. You would feel as though you have taken some tranquilliser.
