How Pranayama and Life correlated
The two basic things of creation are Prana (subtle life energy) and Akasha(space), these two are all present. The vibrations of prana in space are the cause of creation. Prana shakti existed before the creation of Mind. In ancient India Pranayama was practiced to control mind and attain spiritual bliss. Through breathing we intake prana. A Man normally breathes about 22,000 times a day, i.e. 13 to 15 times per minute. It is found that those who breathe faster have a shorter life span. This is more clear when the life span of some animals and human are compared.
We know that when heart beats fast, the breathing also fast. Cardiologist says that the heart then does not pump the blood sufficiently to all body parts. Prana which goes out and comes in, takes 4sec, and in one min 13 to 15 breaths are taken. When a person is calm the rate of breath again decreases. The vitality of a person can be found by the No. of breaths and its length (which is measured by angulas-width of finger). When a person is calm the inhaled breath is 10 angulas and exhaled is 12 angulas. When no. and length of breathe increases, much vitality is lost. When eating the length of breath is 18 angula, when walking it is 20, and in sexual intercourse it is 60 angulas. It is in the text known as swara vijnana (science of breathing) said that the achievements when length of breath is reduced are great.
When length of breath is reduced to 11 angulas, control over physical process of breathing achieved. When it is reduced to 10 angula, peace and calm obtained. When the outgoing breath reduced to 9 angulas, a person can write poems, stories, songs or compose musical verses. If it is reduced to 8 angulas one can become orator and he can control his speech. If it’s reduced to 7, intuition develops about future, eye sight improves. If it is reduced to 6 angulas, the body becomes light, weightless, may possess mystic powers like traveling through sky. If the outgoing breath reduced to 5 angulas, speed in all good actions develops. If it is reduced to 4 angulas, a person gets mystic powers, (ashtasiddikal-8major powers). If it is reduced to 3, then he is capable of knowing about hidden treasures. If it is reduced to 1 angula, he will become like angels and gods, he can be invisible.