Pranayama means controlling the Prana i.e. bio energy which is behind all activities of the body.

Studies have shown that certain yoga practices can help some patients control their high blood pressure. In general, yoga promotes health, a sense of calm and relaxation. In addition, it teaches you to be aware of your body and to listen to the signals it sends – all of which can be very useful. Specific techniques that may be helpful controlling high blood pressure include diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing, which has been shown to reduce stress and induce relaxation, and a Pranayama technique called alternate nostril breathing which also helps reduce stress and induce relaxation. Moreover, there have been a number of studies that show meditation can be a great help in controlling blood pressure.

There is no limitation of age. Yoga can be practiced at all ages, but one should do only those Asanas that are suitable to one’s physical condition.

Traditional exercise is goal oriented: how many push-ups can I do? Can I touch my toes? Yoga by contrast is a process. The idea is to focus your awareness on what you’re doing and how you feel as you perform the postures. In exercise, you fail if you miss your goal. In yoga, you succeed by trying. Yoga involves more conscious awareness of breath and the work you are doing with your body. Poses and movements are unique and have specific purposes and effects on the body. The breath is used to deepen stretches and flexibility. Focus and concentration are key ingredients in yoga practice.

Yoga can make you look and feel better, regardless of your weight. That being said, yoga can help you slim down in a couple of ways. First, the exercises will help you burn calories. In addition, they help tone muscles and improve your posture. Yoga can help you to lose weight gradually and permanently when you practice regularly and eat reasonably. Yoga improves the digestion capacity of the body which reduces excess fat consumption by the body. With persistence, patience, and dedication, you can lose inches and develop muscle tone and strength that might never come from other forms of exercise. As you become stronger and develop greater stamina, a more intensive yoga practice will help your body maintain weight control and excellent tone.

Yoga is not a religion. It is a practical approach to healthy living based on a philosophy that mind, body and spirit are one. Yoga has many branches and practices besides Hatha yoga, the physical fitness part of yoga. There are many excellent books that explain yoga in depth.

Never exercise on a full stomach. Before exercising, wait at least three hours after eating a main meal. After completing a yoga class, wait about a quarter of an hour before eating.

It’s okay to continue practicing yoga while you are pregnant. Yoga is a great way to keep fit during pregnancy. In particular it can help strengthen the pelvic area, normalize thyroid functioning and blood pressure, and help keep you calm and relaxed — all of which is good for the baby, too. In general, however, you want to avoid strain, compressing the belly or abdomen and inverted postures, especially in the later stages, still if you are pregnant, please talk with your doctor before beginning any yoga program. It is also very important that you let your instructor know prior to the start of class.

The best time to practice yoga is either early in morning 4 to 6 or evening 5 to 6.

Thirty minutes before or after practice.

Avoid all inverted postures during menstrual period.

Doing yoga Nidra will be very effective during stressed time.

Without the practice of the principles of Yama and Niyama, which lay deep firm foundations for building characters, there cannot be an integrated personality.

They should be done in a clean airy place, free from insects and noise.

In beginning, keep the eyes open. Then you will know what you are doing and where you go wrong.

The breathing should be done through nostrils only and not through mouth.

Do not restrain breath while in process of asana.

Persons with BP should not start with sirsasana(head standing) and sarvangasana(shoulder standing).

Remove hard contact lenses.

Yogic practices should be performed is an orderly way. First suryanamaskar, then Asana, Pranayama & finally meditation.

Yoga should not be practiced under fan.

Any muscle catch during yoga should be solved by gentle massage.

Yoga should be maintained according to ones flexibility & not by comparison with others.

During yoga practices, backward bending should be accompanied by inhalation & forward bending should be accompanied by exhalation.