Do we really need to PREPARE? before pranayama?

I seem to like the Westerner style of teaching, where things are explained and my rational mind can be put at ease before I embark on something that seems to be a "waste of time" (oops, did I write that out loud?), I mean, preparations? me?  c'mon!  I am  r-e-a-d-y... Ever felt like that? my ego seems to tend towards that... it takes work to bring it back to the center.

The way my mind operates is funny when looked at, and I am learning to even make friends with her.  I know for example she might on some days, resent preparations as much as she will "dislike" going up and down the wall after back bends or do back bends to begin with.  I am coming around to talking to her, and telling her that I understand how she feels, but we will be doing it anyway, and promising her that she will feel better, and then sending her love.

I believe Swami Rama was quite good at anticipating people like me, and I am completely sold by now, this is what I found about two of the preparations.

For example, why is kapalabhati  (sited in siddhasana, spine erect, inhalation and exhalation are performed very rapidly with the abdominal muscles and diaphragm vigorously contracted), which is not a pranayama but a preparation, so important? He says, because:

• great quantities of carbon dioxide are eliminated
• similar amounts of oxygen are absorbed
• blood is made richer
• all the tissues of the body are renewed
• This exercise has no equal for enhancing oxygenation
• Corrects ailments arising from cold
• arrests old age
• has beneficial effects on the nerves 
• improves circulation and metabolism
• It also awakens and purifies the nerves and certain nerve centers that make the practice of pranayama more efficient, because it quiets the respiratory center.

A few rounds of kaphalabati should be performed daily before higher practices of pranayama.

But that is him, what about me?  why do I practice it?

I have found that beyond all the wonderful benefits he lists,

• after doing the four rounds I practice I get on a "zone", where my back is straighter, 
• the body somewhat relaxed, 
• and the mind more focused. 
• A certain quality silence invades the surrounding area, it seems to me as if this exercise is an "invitation" to mental focus.

Take Uddiyana Bandha/Nauli (the navel lock) (pulling the abdominal muscles to full capacity, creating a cavity on the abdomen, with chin at the hollow of the throat, eventually getting to nauli,  better just watch the video....  it will make the explaining easier).

I normally practice this bandha before asana, standing up, although I have found out that sitting down it is a lot easier to isolate the abdominal muscles.

He says that this practice gets even more deeper when Agni Sara happens in which the whole area fromt he base of the spine to the navel is contracted and pulled upward, and at that stage the practice involves the entire energy system.  With practice, the yogi unites prana and apana, and makes them move upward. this overcomesp hysical ailments caused by derangements of prana and apana.

Then again that is him, what about me?  why do I practice it?

I have been practicing this one for over a year now, and I have to say the isolation of the abdominal muscles takes some time.  The nauli, or churning of the muscles is an art in itself.

I have noticed that this exercise

• gives me a deeper awarenes of the bandhas, 
• strengthens mula bandha, 
• gives me the feeling of sending the energy upwards, 
• nd makes me lighter during practice.

I met Wayne (video) in Mysore in 2008, and he has a wonderful video that shows the mastery of it, action starts at 0:20, enjoy.