Pranayama Practice on the Autonomic Nervous System

Most pranayama involves (1) sitting quietly, (2) deep breathing (completely filling and emptying the lungs, at a slow/comfortable pace, with awareness), and (3) a specific mouth, tongue, lip and/or body shape, theorized to enhance the effects of the practice. Practitioners of pranayama modulate the cycles of inspiration and expiration, in a way that is theorized to achieve influence over autonomic functions such as heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and baroreflex \[6\]. For example, the manipulation of the tongue and face during Sheetali and Sheetkari pranayama is intended to stimulate parasympathetic nervous system activity and inhibit the sympathetic nervous system.

Participant breaths in their natural way with out instruction

Participant is required to pay attention to each breath