The fast-paced adrenaline-driven lifestyle in the Silicon Valley takes its toll on the human body. The human body is just as delicate and complex as the most sophisticated computer hardware, and requires similar special care. Vasanthi Bhat offers some guidelines from the ancient wisdom of Yoga.

Cover of Siliconeer (Feb. 2000 – Vol I Issue 1)

The twentieth century is marked by the exponential growth and advances in science and technology. The quest for knowledge has led to advancements in fundamental knowledge of genes. The probe into the interstellar space of planets, stars, black holes and galaxies have enriched human knowledge in understanding the origin of life and the origin of universe. The desire for happiness and comfort of human life has resulted in incredible advancements in all walks of life – business, science, technology, medicine, bio-engineering and many others. The human mind has been and continues to be harnessed at an exponential rate for the benefit of mankind.

These scientific and technological developments have also brought tremendous pressures on the human mind and body to cope with the demands of the modern world. More and more is demanded from an individual to meet the growing needs. Indeed in the race for success, it is only the fit that will survive! To be ‘fit’ is to be productive in whatever endeavor one is involved. And the prerequisite for being productive is to have a healthy body and a balanced mind.

In the course of your normal work, for example, after sitting in front of the computer screen staring at the monitor and exercising your brain for hours, you must have felt your brain go for a high speed spin blurring your eyesight and blanking your mind. Your body is tired and the brain becomes a mush. You need a ‘reset’ to refresh your body and to realign or regain your thoughts. And you need an ‘upgrade’ to handle the load.

It is indeed a good idea to go out to breathe in fresh air and take a walk to relax. At times our schedule is so hectic that we just do not have the time to go out or circumstances may not let us do so due to bad weather.

Relax. Help is on your way and it is easy, effortless and free. A total reset and upgrade of your system (mind and body) is available, all in one short package. This is an ancient trick that does wonders. Just try it. Here are some simple techniques you can use any time, any place.

The techniques which you are going to practice are based on the yogic breathing technique called Pranayama. Prana, meaning life-force, and yama, meaning control. Pranayama is to breathe consciously. When we breathe consciously we are able to absorb more oxygen. Along with the oxygen, we are able to preserve a great amount of life-force (prana) in the system. Equally we are able to release the tension and free bio-chemical radicals in our body which helps restore our health. Inability to release these built-up tension and free radicals causes mental fatigue, nervousness, anxiety, and imbalance in the nervous system.

We normally breathe without paying attention to our breaths as involuntary systems do the job. But it is important to know that when we are under stress the breathing channels and other parts of the body associated with the breathing get stiff with tension as mind and body work together. This physical fatigue further affects the thinking as the system is starved of oxygen.

To break this vicious cycle, try to practice any one or more of the breathing techniques described below.

Breathing Techniques

Conscious breathing
Sit on a chair or wherever it is comfortable, close your eyes and bring your entire attention on your natural (involuntary) breath. Take a few moments to feel the breath flowing in and out through your nostrils. When your mind is on the breath, notice you tend to breathe slowly and peacefully and you are able to recharge your system in no time. This is the first stage of controlled or conscious breathing (pranayama)

How long should you continue?
From 30 seconds to as long as you have the time.

Note: You can also practice this breathing while walking, driving and performing daily duties as this is focusing on your natural breath. This will prevent you from getting exhausted at the end of the day due to the constant storage of energy – prana – throughout the day.

Deep breathing
Sit on a chair or wherever it is comfortable, close your eyes and extend your natural breath to slightly deeper. Breathing deeply, expand your chest muscles. Breathing out slowly and deeply, allow your chest to come to normal position and then slowly pull your stomach in (compress your stomach).

The next step is very important. As you are breathing in, focus your mind on the chest expansion. Notice, you need not expand your stomach in the process. Just loosen the pulled in stomach muscles as you breathe in. Stomach automatically comes back to the normal position.

How long should you continue?
From one minute to as long as you have the time.

Note: You can also practice this breathing prior to going to work, while walking, or whenever you need to restore abundant of prana in your system.

Holding the breath
This is better if practiced while sitting in a chair, sitting on the floor in a comfortable sitting position, or while standing. After breathing in deeply, hold the breath for a few seconds. Then breathe out deeply. Gradually increase the duration of the holding.

How long should you continue?
From one minute to as long as you have the time.

Note: This holding the breath technique can exceptionally upgrade the entire system as prana is absorbed by each and every and cell and organ.

When to practice these three techniques?

  • To relieve mental exhaustion.
  • To relax before seminars and public meetings.
  • To improve concentration, memory, and productivity.
  • To control and understand upcoming agitation.
  • To convert a stressful situation into positive action.
  • To achieve a balanced and peaceful state of mind.


Vasanthi Bhat is a Bay Area-based Yoga instructor.