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Pranayama - Peaceful Mind Body and Soul

Pranayama is the fourth anga or organ (branch) of ashtanga yoga as prescribed by Patanjali, the chief guru of Ayurveda. Astanga means eight organ-ed or eight branched). Pranayama is the technique of collecting and storing more prana (life) from the air (oxygen) we breathe, or in simple words pranayama control (ayama) of prana (life force).

Deep Breathing Pranayama-1

To take deep breathing, take any of the pose directed to prayer and meditation. Body is kept erect and without giving stress to any part of the body or without making any movements.

Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama 2

Pranayama step 2 anuloma – viloma

It is also called nadisodhana pranayama or nervous cleansing pranayama

Bhastrika – Pranayama

Bhastrika literally means bellows. This pranayama step got its name from the fact that the breathing resembles the action of bellows.

Kapalabhati – Pranayama

Kapala bhati or frontal brain bellowing is the fourth step of pranayama.

Sit in a meditative pose and close your eyes.

Shauchapranayama – Pranayama

Shaucha pranayama or cleansing breathing is first step of pranayama. This cleanses lungs.

Take any comfortable yoga pose.

No need to shut eyes, keep hands on knees.

What is Pranayama/Yogic Breathing?

Pranayama (yogic breathing), the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga, is a set of procedures to control vital life force called prana by efficiently controlling breathing. Pranayama is derived from two Sanskrit words – prana and ayama. Prana means life or vital life force, ayama is control. Pranayama therefore essentially is the control of life.

Ujjayi Pranayama

This pranayama should produce the sound of ocean.

The procedure for Ujjayi Pranayama

Relationship between Mind and Breathing

Mind and prana (the core life force that supports life, generally said life here) are closely related. Though we know the presence of both, we can’t identify the exact state or shape of both. According to yoga concepts, respiration (breathing) is the visual indication of prana (life). Thus the relationship between mind and breathing is also the relationship between mind and life.