Our body though looks very simple but is very complicated from inside. But the amazing part is in its management. Everything has been so well coordinated, which is beyond our standing. A beautiful and huge network is set up within our body. Amongst this, a great role is played by Vayu (air). Let us see how air is playing in our network to keep our body fit and fine.
Scientifically our body itself is known as Vayu (Air). This is only our strength and regulates the functioning of even the smallest organ of our body. AS we know God is one but is represented by different names similarly, Vayu is only one but with many names and function of each varies according to its presence in that specific part of our body. Its deficiency leads to the occurrence of different diseases in different organs. This Vayu work individually on its own on 84 places in the body of this 84 vayus, 10 are main and out of these 10, two are important (Pran and Apaan) and out of these two i.e., the Praan is of utmost importance.
Prana Vayu: This is situated in the heart. Its function is to help in the inhaling and exhaling air and to help in swallowing the food. This is also called the life force. During the day its action is dominating but at night it becomes passive to apaan.
Apaan Vayu: This is situated in the anus. It excretes waste from the body i.e., helps in maintaining cleanliness.
Saman Vayu: This is situated in the navel. Its function is to nourish the human body.
Udaan Vayu: This is situated in the throat and it carries the life force upwards.
Naag Vayu: This is situated in the stomach and helps in producing burps.
Koorma Vayu: This is in eyelids and its function is to make the eyes blink.
Krikal Vayu: This is in the digestive system and it creates hunger.
Devdutt Vayu: This is in the muscles and it is helpful in sleep laziness and yawning in the body.
Dhananjay Vayu: This is in the lower skin and is responsible for body swelling.
Through pranayama, (Anulom-vilom, etc.), air bath, and swar yoga, one can increase life force.
The longer the duration of breathing the more a person will live which means, the lesser the number of breaths per minute the longer the lifespan.
Some of the citations are given below
Animal No. of breaths/minute Age in years
Rat 300 1
Rabbit 70 8
Frog 50 14
Monkey 32 20
Elephant 20 80
Human Adult 18 100
Snake 7 250
Tortoise 5 400
Air composition in a breath
In inhalation air contains oxygen 20.95%, carbon dioxide 0.04%, and nitrogen 79. 01%.
In exhalation air contains oxygen 16.40 %, carbon dioxide 4.00 %, and nitrogen 79.6 0%
Each person requires 3000 cubic feet of fresh air every day.
Breathing pattern in human beings is as under
Age No. per minute
Newborn 50-40
1 month to 12 months 35 -25
1 year to 4 years 25
5 years to 15 years 20-25
Above 16 years 18
A person practicing Pranayama breathes approximately eight times in a minute and longer he lives.
