Pranayama

"Pranayama is control of Breath". "Prana" is Breath as well as vital energy in the body. On subtle levels prana represents the pranic energy responsible for life or life force, and the ayama means control. So Pranayama means the "Control of Breath".

Pranayama in Hatha Yoga Pradipika

PranayamaPrana is vital energy, as well as ayama is control and extension of the Pranic energy. Swami Biswamitra in Hatha Yoga Pradipika talks about Pranayama as the way to awaken the kundalini, regular practice of Pranayama can lead to spiritual awakening along with self realization. He describes various types of Pranayama, that has different effects on the body, mind as well as spirit.

Nadi purifying Pranayama

Balancing the Ida and Pingala, the mental force and vital force is one of the main objectives of Pranayama. Left nostril and right nostril if balanced can awaken Sushumna the psychic nadi or channel carrying kundalini nadi.

Shitali Pranayama

Sheetal also means cool, as well as this pranayama technique will help you achieve the same. To perform shitali pranayama, be seated in a comfortable position. Cross your legs as well as take five to six deep breaths to get yourself prepared.

Now open your mouth in a "o" shape and start to inhale through the mouth. When you exhale, do so with your nose.

This can be repeated five to ten times.

Ujjayi Pranayama

PranayamaUjjayi means the ocean and this pranayama is about mimicking the oceanic sound or the sound of the waves.

To do this, be seated in a comfortable position crossing your legs. Now start to inhale and exhale deeply using your mouth.

While doing this, constrict your throat as if something is choaking it when you exhale and inhale the air. This will produce a sound similar to the ocean when you breath.

Now close your mouth and start to breath using your nose, but maintain the same tone to your throat so you still continue to make the same sound as your breath.

You can repeat this prayanama breathing exercise for about ten to fifteen times.

Kapalabhati Pranayama

To perform the kapalabhati pranayama technique, sit in a comfortable position crossing your legs. Perform two to three deep inhales and exhales.

Now inhale deeply and exhale forcefully drawing all the air out. Your belly should be drawn in, as you exhale.

When you inhale, let it happen passively without you making any effort to inhale as the belly goes back to normal position.

Exhale forcefully again and continue doing this for about 20 to 30 times.

Viloma Pranayama

Viloma Pranayama involves praused breathing at regular intervals and can be divided into two stages. The first stage is called 'paused inhalation' and the second stage is called 'paused exhalation'. Let's look at these stages in detail: