I have written about the Samvrit Pranayama so many times. Yesterday I came across it in a Whodunit novel. It was called Combat breathing. It took me by surprise. The assassin was practicing combat breathing, inhale to the count of 4, pause to the count of four, exhale to the count of four and pause to the count of four.

Well dear ones, what do you make of it? I am sad that they do not acknowledge the source of the practice. This combat breathing or box breathing is taught to navy seals, soldiers, snipers and others who are in a stressful job.

Now we have got recognition for something which is absolutely essential for us. Samvrit pranayama balances one’s subtle breath in one’s breath. It connects one to the life force (Prana) and effects the union of Shiva and Shakti. It works on the parasympathetic system and is effective for managing the fight flight response. Adding So for inhalation and Ham for exhalation one is merging one’s individual consciousness with the supreme consciousness. So Ham is also the sound of our breath.

Swami Sivananda was keen for all of us to remember God, and he said that even if once a day we said his name it would make us aware of his presence. I am adding this last bit as by becoming aware of the sound of one’s breath one is aware of the Sukshma prana and therefore aware of the Divine presence.

Aim Hrim Klim

Photo by The Cleveland Museum of Art on Unsplash