Dr. Somendra Pant

somendrapant@yahoo.com
315-261-4750

Pranayama is an ancient Indian Meditation Technique that is focused on controlling and regulating breath. It is the fourth limb of Patanjali’s eight-limbed Raja Yoga System. Raja Yoga (literally, Royal Yoga) is concerned with the cultivation of the mind via meditation. The practice involves sitting in a comfortable posture (with or without a cushion) and 5 or 6 different breathing exercises that last for about 45 minutes. This is followed by about 15 minutes of yoga-nidra (the yogic sleep – a guided imagery type of meditation), wherein the participants are completely relaxed without actually falling asleep.

Benefits of Pranayama are many: Increased Relaxation, Centeredness, Concentration, Lowered Blood Pressure and Cholesterol, to name a few. There is ample hard evidence out there that regular meditation improves the body’s immune system, overall physical health, and well being. Here are two excerpts from a Time Magazine Cover Article:

1. “Meditation is being recommended by more and more physicians as a way to prevent, slow or at least control the pain of chronic diseases like heart conditions, AIDS, cancer and infertility. It is also being used to restore balance in the face of such psychiatric disturbances as depression, hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder (ADD).”

2. “One study, for example, shows that women who meditate and use guided imagery have higher levels of the immune cells known to combat tumors in the breast. This comes after many studies have established that meditation can significantly reduce blood pressure. Given that 60% of doctor visits are the result of stress-related conditions, this isn't surprising.”

The same article also mentions that meditation has a positive effect on a person’s vitality and libido as well. (The full article “Just Say OM” is available at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1005349,00.html).

True benefit of Prananyama, however, is a sense of peace, calm, and tranquility that lasts way beyond the practicing hour.

Dr. Somendra Pant learned Pranayama meditation technique from some of the best teachers in India and has practiced it for many years now. He has also practiced other forms of meditation. In the past he worked at the Rishi Valley School founded by the renowned spiritual teacher J. Krishnamurti. Dr. Pant has a deep interest in the teachings of J. Krishnamurti as well as in Yoga and Buddhism. Dr. Pant is an Associate Professor at Clarkson University School of Business where he teaches courses in the areas of Management Information Systems and Management of Technology.