WHAT IS PRANAYAMA?

INTRODUCTION

We can call Pranayama a scientific method to make life healthy and long. It works on a very subtle level; “pranayama” is a word that is known by everyone in the world today. Some people also know it as a form of breathing exercise. Everyone practises Pranayama, but few understand the true meaning of the practice. It is a very important practice. It connects the body and mind, so it becomes even more important; it not only works on the systems of this physical body but also works on our mind as a whole. It gives us the power to control our state of mind by controlling our breathing. In this article, we will try to understand the concept of pranayama.

Here we will cover

• Meaning of Pranayama
• Pranayama in Yogic tradition
• Why Asana is practiced before Pranayama
• Difference between Breathing and Pranayama
• Let’s sum up

MEANING OF PRANAYAMA

Pranayama is made up of two words Prana +Ayama, prana means “vital energy/ jeevni shakti” and ayama means “regulation” or “control” and also “expansion”. Prana is breath or life force and its expansion is Ayama. Pranayama, therefore, means the practice of Yoga which expands and strengthens vital energy or we can say that the Samyama of prana is called pranayama.

PRANAYAMA IN YOGIC LITERATURE

Pranayama is one of the most important practices in the Yoga tradition, it is believed that we can regulate our breath for our well-being, as well as to increase vital energy and it also helps to connect the physical dimension to the psychological dimension of our personality. Practices related to Prana and Pranayama have a special place in Vedic and other Yogic texts. In the scriptures of Tantra, Pranayama is mentioned along with the techniques of Dhyana. Some methods of meditation of “Vigyanbhairav ​​Tantra” are based on the inner consciousness with the changing patterns of breath.

Later, Pranayama became an important practice of Hatha Yoga (10th century). In Hatha Yoga, all the methods have been explained in great detail. The word Kumbhaka has been used a lot in the time of hatha Yoga, somewhat the word kumbhaka has become synonymous with pranayama. In traditional Hatha yogic texts, there is a description of Ashtakumbhak i.e., 8 types of pranayama. Pranayama is mentioned in a number of Yogic texts, like the Yoga sutra of Patanjali, Hathpradipika, Gheranda Samhita, etc.

Maharishi Patanjali says that

तस्मिन्सतिश्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदःप्राणायामः॥49॥

Tasminsatiśvāsapraśvāsayorgativicchedaḥprāṇāyāmaḥ||2/49||

When the asana has been perfected, then the pranayama, which is the suspension of the flow of the inhalation and exhalation should be practiced.

Maharishi Patanjali in Yogasutra, also says that,

धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः॥53॥

Dhāraṇāsu ca yogyatā manasaḥ||2/53||

Pranayama prepares one to do concentration practices.

Hathapradipika states in one of the shlokas that

चले वाते चलं चित्तं निश्चले निश्चलं भवेत् ।
योगी स्थाणुत्वम् आप्नोति ततो वायुं निरोधयेत्|| 2/2 ||

chale vāte chalaṃ chittaṃ niśchale niśchalaṃ bhavet||

yoghī sthāṇutvamāpnoti tato vāyuṃ nirodhayet || 2/2 ||

When prana/breath is in motion, the mind remains wavering, when prana stops then mind also becomes motionless and the hatha yogi attains peacefulness. So, one should bring under control one’s breath.

For easy understanding, we can say that when respiration is disturbed, then the mind becomes disturbed. By restraining respiration, the Yogî gets stability of mind.

While explaining the effects of Pranayama Hathpradipika says that

“Pranayama destroys all the diseases” (HP/2/16)

Trishikhibrahmnopnishad says that “Cessation of all the afflictions is called pranayama”.

According to Swami Vivekananda “Control of vital force which resides in the body is called pranayama”.

According to Gheranda Samhita, “Pranayama Provides Lightness”

WHY ASANA IS PRACTICED BEFORE PRANAYAMA?

In most of the Yoga texts, the practice of Pranayama is mentioned after the practice of Asana/ postures, because for doing Pranayama, it is necessary to sit in a posture in one place for some time without any disturbance, but if the posture is not comfortable, then this physical instability will create an interruption in the process of pranayama Therefore, it is important to have good practice of any one meditative asana. In meditative postures (5 MOST IMPORTANT MEDITATIVE ASANA (POSTURES) ), the back and head remain straight. it brings stability and comfort, the process of inhalation and exhalation occurs freely without any difficulty, and the seeker remains attentive to feel the process of pranayama.  In Hathapradipika, which is one of the famous Hatha yogic text, it is said that asana should be practiced before pranayama

अथासने दॄधे योगी वशी हित-मिताशनः |

गुरूपदिष्ह्ट-मार्गेण पराणायामान्समभ्यसेत || 2/1 ||

athāsane dṝdhe yoghī vaśī hita-mitāśanaḥ |

ghurūpadiṣhṭa-mārgheṇa prāṇāyāmānsamabhyaset || 2/1 ||

When Posture becomes established, a Yogi, master of himself, eating useful and moderate food, should practice Pranayama, under the instruction of his guru.

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRANAYAMA AND BREATHING

Every human being is breathing for all their life without any break and the components of breathing are inhalation and exhalation. During inhalation, we inspire the outer air inside our body while during exhalation the internal air is expired outside of our body. The process of breathing is different from the process of pranayama, if they were similar, then what is the need for the concept of pranayama? In the yogic texts the techniques of pranayama are mentioned and by studying them, we can clearly see that in pranayama along with inhalation and exhalation, there is one more component, which is most important to make it pranayama and that is kumbhaka i.e retention of prana, it is of two types, one is internal retentions and the other one is external retention. This kumbhaka creates a difference between general breathing and pranayama. This is the most essential part of the pranayama.

LET’S SUM UP

By the above brief discussion about Pranayama, we can conclude that pranayama is one of the essential practices among the different limbs of Yoga. Some practices of Yoga work on the physical level while some work on the psychological level, then there is pranayama which works on both in fact it works as a bridge between the physical and mental aspects of personality. it is a practice through which we can control our mind as breathing and state of mind affect each other. Pranayama is a skillful pause during normal breathing at different levels.

We will explore more about the pranayama with upcoming articles. If you liked the article, make sure to subscribe for more such articles.

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