HOW TO INCREASE LONGEVITY

                   HOW TO INCREASE LONGEVITY – A                                           COMPREHENSIVE STUDY

Introduction:

Every person in this materialistic world wants to live longer whatever lifestyle they enjoy. These people forget their past Karma which means what they have done in their earlier days. Due to our past Karma, we suffer from various diseases and thereby lose our longevity. Various Researchers at different times indicated various reasons but one of the most important aspects is a lifestyle. If we can change our lifestyle, we can achieve our goal that is increasing longevity. With this question in mind, I wondered about various places to meet the saints, sadhus, and yogis who lived hundreds of years without any disease and who conquered the secrets of death. Different Saints, Sadhus, and Yogis opinioned differently, but one of them who lived 250 years or more in The Himalayan region taught his disciples the secrets of how to increase longevity. I met one of the most prominent disciples in the Himalayan Region in Uttarakhand (In India) who lived 185 years and recently left for a heavenly abode on his will. He questioned me, who enjoys a longer life without any effort in this materialistic world. He answered Tortoise is the longest-living animal in this world. He further questioned, why they live such a long time? He answered to this question – because they breathe more slowly than any other animal. The fastest-breathing animals live a shorter life and those who breathe slowly live a longer life. So, if we can minimize our breathing gap, we can increase our longevity. The Yogi advised; that Pranayama is the best way to increase longevity along with some lifestyle changes.

What Changes are needed:

Changes in Lifestyle –

Lifestyle changes enhance longevity. Engaging in regular exercise is a critical component of a longevity-boosting lifestyle. Physical activity like Asana (most of people say as Yoga) plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy weight and improving cardiovascular health. Yoga has eight limbs. These are Yamas ( Social conduct), Niyama ( Self observance), Pranayama ( Breathing exercise), Dhyana (Meditation), Pratyahara (Withdrawal of the senses), Asana ( Physical Postures), Dharana (Concentration) and Samadhi (Superconscious state). These steps are designed to guide an individual through a journey of personal development and thereby changes in the whole lifestyle.

 Pranayama:

By regular practice of Pranayama, an individual can harness their power of breath to improve their overall wellbeing to pave the way for a longer and healthier life.

 Pranayama has three aspects :

 Rechaka(Exhalation), Puraka(Inhalation) and Kumbhaka(Retention of breath). There is another mode of pranayama which is called Kevala Kumbhaka (Spontaneous breath retention). This is an advanced stage of pranayama which occurs during the higher stage of meditation. In this stage, the lungs stop their activity and the respiration ceases. At this time, the veil which prevents one from seeing the subtle aspect of existence is lifted and a higher vision of reality is attained.

 The most important part of Pranaya is Kumbhaka (breath retention). To attain this state, there must be a gradual development of control over the function of respiration. Therefore, in Pranayama, more emphasis is given to inhalation, exhalation, and retention. During this retention period, a Yogi operates his inhalation and exhalation through the Vertebral Column by performing Khechari Mudra (The highest level of Mudra). In this state, a Yogi pushes back his tongue behind the palate and places the tongue tip into the nasal cavity and lastly, the tongue tip reaches over the nasal cavity to stop breathing through nostrils. This Khechari Mudra enables the Yogi to overcome disease and death.  In this way, a man can attain a higher longevity. 

 Conclusion:

In summary, Pranayama's wide-ranging benefits, from enhancing respiratory health and reducing stress to boosting immune function and supporting heart health, play a significant role in promoting longevity. By incorporating Pranayama into daily routines, individuals can harness the power of their breath to improve overall well-being and pave the way for a longer, healthier life.