The
cranial and spinal nerves spread throughout the body, forming a network
of nerve fibers and motor nerve fibers, carry nerve impulses from
the brain and spinal cord outward to the nerve endings, and sensory
nerve fibers, carry nerve impulses from the nerve endings inward to
the brain and spinal cord.
Patanjali, the codifier of yoga science, explains that the control
of prana is the regulation of inhalation and exhalation. This is accomplished
by eliminating the pause between inhalation and exhalation or expanding
it by retention. Then, by regulating the motion of the lungs, the
heart and the vagus nerve are controlled.
The
autonomic nervous system regulates processes in our bodies which
are not normally under our voluntary control processes such as secretion
by the digestive organs, the beating of the heart and the movement
of the lungs. The science of pranayama is intimately connected with
the autonomic nervous system and brings its functions under conscious
control through the functioning of the lungs.
There
is a unique exception to the rule, that the autonomic nervous system
governs processes are self regulating and not under voluntary control.
Though the act of respiration is for the most part involuntary,
voluntary control in this area is easily achieved. The depth, duration
and frequency of respiration can be consciously modulated quite
readily. It is for this reason that control of breath constitutes
an obvious starting point toward attainment of control over the
functioning of the autonomic nervous system.
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