What is Pranayama

This is a combination of two Sanskrit words, Prana and Ayama. Prana is the life force or breath and Ayam can be expansion, raising or controlling.

This is the fourth limb in the 8 limbs of Yoga Tradition. Pranayama is a part of yoga since many thousands years. In Ayurveda there is also mention of Pranayama as it is believed if Prana is controlled the whole system is in balanced if the Prana is steady or balanced then the whole mind, emotions and physical body can be imbalance.

There are three parts in the controlled breathing system, Puraka(inhalation), Kumbhaka(Retention), rechaka( exhalation). these parts are use depends on the pranayama types.

the most common Pranayam is Anulom Vilom which anyone can do without any restrictions if the Kumbhaka is not used. Using Kumbhaka is for advanced practitioner .

Pranayama is often understood as controlling Prana, but in practice, what we are directly controlling is the breath. To be more precise, we are regulating our breathing pattern.

When the breath becomes steady and regulated, the flow of Prana also becomes balanced. That is why breathing practices are so important in yoga. By learning to regulate the breath, we influence our energy, our mind, and the way we experience life.