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Pranayama

"Pranayama is control of Breath". "Prana" is Breath or vital energy in the body. On subtle levels prana represents the pranic energy responsible for life or life force, and "ayama" means control. So Pranayama is "Control of Breath". One can control the rhythms of pranic energy with pranayama and achieve healthy body and mind.

Pranayama is loosely translated as prana or breath control. The ancient yogis developed many breathing techniques to maximize the benefits of prana. Pranayama is used in yoga as a separate practice to help clear and cleanse the body and mind. It is also used in preparation for meditation, and in asana,the practice of postures, to help maximize the benefits of the practice, and focus the mind.

Main aim of Pranayama is to purify the Nadis and to make Kundalini power to reach Sahasrara Chakra from Muladhara chakra. Sage Patanjali in his Patanjala Yoga Darshana says Pranayama removes the veil of ignorance and leads one to Self realization.

Pranayama consists of three actions. One is Puraka(Inhalation of breath), Kumbhaka(Retention of breath) and Rechaka (Exhalation of breath).

Pooraka :

Poorak performed in a typical manner is the characteristics of this type of Pranayama. The Pooraka is to be performed with both the nostrils. While performing Pooraka, a sound is generated when the air passes through the throat due to its friction. This sound should be consistent from the beginning of the Pooraka till its end. The chest should expand while performing the Pooraka. The stomach should not be contracted while expanding the chest. A control over the muscles of the stomach is to be exercised, so as to achieve only a little bit of contraction, focusing the entire attention on the expansion of the chest. However, attention should be paid to the fact that while expanding the chest, the stomach also is not expanded. The Pooraka should be done at a constant pace and the sound generated should be low and pleasing to the ear. There should not be any ups and downs in the sound. The sound should come out of the upper part of the throat and not from the upper or front part of the nose. If it is generated through these parts, it may prove to be harmful for the nervous system. While performing Pooraka, the facial muscles should not be stretched. The start and the ending of the Pooraka has to be natural. At the end of the Pooraka, one should not strive to inhale further air by using more strength.

Kumbhaka :

The Kumbhaka is to be performed as described earlier. After Pooraka, both the nostrils should be closed, Jalandhar Bandh should be fixed and the Kumbhaka should be performed. During Kumbhaka, the other two bandhas, Uddiyan Bandh and the Mul Bandh should be fixed. The Kumbhaka should be performed till such time as not to have any strain on the breathing system. Then the bandhas should be released and Rechaka should be performed. The units for which Kumbhaka is to be performed cannot be defined, but it should be performed with ease and capability. If the units for which the Kumbhaka is performed are less, then accordingly the Pooraka and Rechaka can also be adjusted.

Rechaka :

After completion of Kumbhaka, the bandhas should be released in the order defined earlier and Rechaka should be started. The Rechaka, too should generate sound as that in Pooraka. However, the sound generated here is more in volume than that in Pooraka. This can be termed as Bhraamari Naad (sound of female humming bee) this is more melodious than earlier. The sound should be gradual and at a constant pace without any ups and downs. With continued practice, the sound will be more clear and pleasing to the ears. The units in Rechaka should be double that that in Pooraka. After Rechaka, the next rotation can be immediately commenced.

Duration :

The duration of the study of Pranayama cannot be limited to the duration of one cycle only. Maintaining the same proportion of Pooraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka in one cycle, the number of cycles that can be performed at a stretch will define the duration for the Pranayama study. During this syllabus, the Pranayama should be practiced for at least ten minutes duration. Initially, only a single cycle is performed. However, with practice, the duration can be increased.

There are eight important Pranayamas according to Hathayoga Pradipike. They are:

  1. Surya bhedha pranayama
  2. Ujjayi pranayama
  3. Sitkari pranayama
  4. Shitali pranayama
  5. Bhastrika pranayama
  6. Bhramari pranayama
  7. Murcha pranayama
  8. Plavini pranayama
Other Pranayamas are
  • Kaphala Bhati
  • Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama
  • Chandranuloma Pranayama
  • Suryanuloma
  • Nadi-Shuddhi Pranayama
  • Sama-Nadi-shuddhi Pranayama
  • Dhirgha-Shvasa-uchvasa Pranayama
  • Sukhapurvaka Pranayama
  • Suryabhedhana Sukhapurvaka Pranayama
  • Chandrabhedhana Sukhapurvaka Pranayama
  • Bahya-Kumbhaka-Sukhapurvaka Pranayama
  • Shavasana Pranayama
  • Sanchara Pranayama
  • Layabaddha Pranayama

Preparation for Pranayama

As people have attraction towards Yogasanas, similarly they have attraction to Pranayama. The process of Pranayama is concerned with the breathing, the indicator of life. And therefore, if it is done wrongly, it may do harm to the person. This fear dissuades many from taking up Pranayama. The second reason for its unpopularity is the absence of teachers who can teach it scientifically. However, it is true that if one does Pranayama unscientifically, without proper guidance, one certainly suffers. But it does not mean that it is such a difficult process, that it cannot be done by a common man. On the contrary, if it is learnt and practiced under an expert's guidance, one learns soon and experiences the wonderful and even unimaginable benefits.