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Pranayama -- The Invisible Super Food by Peter Okilo January 2002 As humanity prepares itself for the next great leap in consciousness, a leap that is but a simple decision away for ALL of us, the need to feed our energy systems with appropriate nutrition that facilitates and powers this leap becomes more critical. Everyone who has ever eaten only raw plant based foods for even only a few weeks will attest to the powerful mental and physiological energetic transformation that comes with natural nutrition. Our multi-dimensional beings however yearn for more than mental and physiological transformation alone. Not only should we develop other parts of our selves, but we must also be mindful of the interconnected, interactive and interdependent nature of all our energy systems. Since Spirit, Mind and Body influence each other and are but one and the same but holding different positions on the "Light / True Self" continuum, the key to stilling spirit and purifying body and mind is Prana, as this is the Life Force. The main method for this is purification and balance of the channels through which Prana flows, otherwise known as Pranayama, accompanied by silent meditative focus on breath and emptiness of mind. On a psychological level, Prana governs our receptivity to positive sources of nourishment, feeling and knowledge through the mind and senses. When imbalanced it causes wrong desire and insatiable craving. We become misguided, misdirected and generally out of balance. Most of us will have experienced the challenges of food cravings, especially during transition onto a raw plant based diet and also even when fairly travelled along this path. Food cravings, especially during “raw transition”, does however have solutions like everything else. One such tried, tested and confirmed solution is Pranayama. While all Pranayama aids in this regard, the most important, and most easily learned and implemented is alternate nostril breathing. This Pranayama aids in the balance of the right and left Prana currents. According to the Yogic system the body and all of its channels follow a right or left predominance. The right side of the body is masculine or solar in nature and is Pitta or fire predominant. Right nostril breathing increases energy on the right side and aids in such activities as digestion, work, and concentration. The left side is feminine or lunar in nature and is Kapha or water predominant. Left nostril breathing increases energy on the left side of the body and aids in such activities as rest, sleep and relaxation. The following is an outline of how to do “alternate nostril breathing” Pranayama, and I am more than certain that if you do this regularly, every morning for even just 10-15 minutes, and if possible 3-5 times during the day, especially when you need a little pick me up, your daily energy, will power, and concentration levels will increase. Since everything is connected, the meditative benefits of this exercise will positively affect all other areas of your being and life. Maintaining “the path”, being more alert and being more open to discovering your life’s purpose are just a few of these related and interdependent benefits. Before I explain the exercise, I’d like to a share a highly relevant quote from Tony Buzan, the world-renowned psychologist who has researched extensively into thought and life systems that aid in the development of our innate multi-dimensional genius. "There are 10 Intelligences: Creative, Personal, Social, Spiritual, Physical, Sensual, Sexual, Numerical, Spatial and Verbal...Think of your Multiple Intelligences as a finger on a pair of unbelievably adept and agile piano-playing hands. It is possible of course for you to play your life's music with one finger, or with two...The music of your life, however, is far better played with all the fingers of your Multiple Intelligences performing their magic on the keyboard of your existance." -- Tony Buzan inventor of Mind Maps Wishing you all supernatural development of your innate multi-dimensional genius. The exercise Begin by sitting down comfortably, (lotus position if you can) in a quiet and calm environment where you will not be interrupted. Quieten and still your mind by emptying it of all thoughts. Focus only on your breathing. Take deep breaths and slow your breathing as much as you can. Using you right hand, close your right nostril with the thumb and hold the right middle finger over but not on the left nostril. Inhale deeply through the left nostril for a set period of time, what ever is comfortable, say 5 - 10 seconds. Then HOLD for double the time it took you to inhale. (ie. if 5 seconds inhale, then hold for 10 seconds). Then close the left nostril with the middle finger, open the right and exhale. Inhale again, now through the right nostril in the same timeframe, hold for double the count, close the right and open the left, exhaling through the left. This is the full cycle. Now, repeat the procedure, and always, always breathe very slowly, deeply and silently, without any interruption between rounds, if you can. You should of course try to increase the time you spend inhaling and holding as this in turn increases the volume of Prana entering your brain and visible/invisible energy systems, thereby improving all related physiological, mental, psychic and spiritual benefits. I regularly achieve 30 seconds inhaling with 60 seconds holding after a few weeks of practice supported by an active aerobic training program of swimming and/or running/jogging. Everybody is capable of this and more! Some links www.holistic-online.com/Yoga/hol_yoga_breath_prana.htm www.holistic-online.com/Yoga/hol_yoga_breathing_traditional.htm www.holistic-online.com/Yoga/hol_yoga_breathing_deep.htm About Peter A former decathlon champion, a lifelong student of metaphysics and personal development, and a vegetarian for 15 years, Peter has enjoyed a mostly raw plant based diet since September 1999. He maintains this life choice for practical, health and ethical reasons, keeps fit and regularly fasts for physiological, psychological and spiritual benefits. Peter runs his own Internet company, and has spent two years developing The People’s World, a project that economically empowers the masses by enabling the global Internet population to participate in the World Wide Web's most lucrative profit centres while benefiting humanitarian and environmental organisations. Peter resides in London, is a global citizen and a universal and free spirit. Peter's favourite Quote: "You are all The Bhudda". Last words of The Bhudda. Peter Okilo. BSc Hons (Sports Science)

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