Pranayama: characteristics

Pranayama represents the fourth step of the 8 parts (Ashtanga Yoga) described by Patanjali.

Prana = subtle life force.

Ayama = voluntary effort to control and direct this prana; extension or expansion.

Pranayama = regulation of the flow of the prana through the extension of the breath

Characteristics of Pranayama

Pranayama means a voluntary and temporary pause in the movement of breath, the pause in between the movement of inhalation and exhalation and vice versa (Patanjali yoga sutras 2:49).

Each cycle of pranayama consists of three phases:  puraka (done during the phase of inhalation), kumbhaka (voluntarily controlled suspension of breath), rechaka (done during the phase of exhalation).  Puraka and rechaka are voluntarily prolongations of the respective respiratory phases, they are done with full concentration of mind.

There are three possible types of kumbhaka:

• Abhyantara or purna or antar kumbhaka

       Is the suspension of breath after the inhalation.

• Bahya or shunya or bahir kumbhaka

       Is the suspension of breath after exhalation.

• Keval kumbhaka

        After a long practice of pranayama, is the suspension of breath that happens in a mid stage of a respiratory act, during this stage the fluctuation of prana ceases.

Pranayama practices should be performed in a comfortable setting and position after asanas in an integrated yoga program. 

The Pranic Body is constituted of 5 major prana:

Prana – Apana – Samana – Udana – Vyana

and 5 minor prana:

Naga – Koorma – Krikara – Devdutta – Dhananjaya