The study and eventual mastery of apana and prana motions has other significant ramifications.
- According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the yogi's physique is transformed into that of a 16-year-old by drawing the apana vayu up and pushing the prana vayu down.
- As prana vayu is pushed out of the body in an upward trajectory and apana vayu is directed downwards, both vayus ultimately lead to a depletion of life energy.
- Mula Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha may be used to drive apana vayu upwards, whereas Jalandhara Bandha and Jihva Bandha can be used to send prana vayu downwards.
According to the Vedas, the vayus meet in the Manipura Chakra, where they are transformed into samana vayu and absorbed into the body's solar pranic storage by turning them around.
- This kind of prana absorption into the Manipura Chakra is believed to be accountable for yogic feats like being buried for days or weeks and yet being alive when dug up.
- Pilot Baba, for example, has shown that yogis can survive without oxygen for an extended period of time. This is not a new concept: it is stated in the Brhad Aranyaka, the most ancient Upanishad, that whomever grows samana vayu is beyond death.
Take note of the yogic tradition's continuity throughout thousands of years.
- Apart from absorbing prana, apana, and samana vayus into the solar pranic storehouse, it is beneficial to slow down breath and pulse to the point where they are virtually undetectable.
- T. Krishnamacharya and others have shown this capacity.
- Slowing the pulse lowers the heart's oxygen consumption and increases the amount of time spent in kumbhaka.
- Slowing down one's breathing also extends one's life expectancy.
You may also want to read more about Pranayama and Holistic Healing here.
