Light on Yoga - Day 28

Tribute to Guruji and Light on Yoga - Day 28


Pranayama is the fourth limb in Patanajali's 8 limbs of yoga (ashtanga yoga).
I will write a bit about pranayama from Light on Yoga over the next few days.

Patanjali has stated that only after mastery of the asanas can a sadhaka move onto pranayama.  Here the nostrils, nasal passages and membranes, the windpipe, the lungs and the diaphragm are the only parts of the body that are actively involved.  Prana means breath, respiration, life, vitality, wind, energy and strength.  This breath of life is not to be taken lightly as one is generating internal energy or force.  It is the science of the breath.

The "ayama" part of pranayama means length, expansion, stretching or restraint.  So it is the extension of the breath and the control of the breath. Control of the inhalation, exhalation and the retention of the breath, either at the top of the in breath or after the exhalation.  The retention is termed kumbhaka.  It is antara(inner) kumbhaka if retention is after the full inhalation and bahya(exterior) kumbhaka is retention at the end of the full exhalation.
A kumbha is a pitcher or water pot.  Mr. Iyengar writes, "A water pot may be emptied of all air and filled completely with water, or it may be emptied of all water and filled completely with air.

The rhythmic breathing must be carefully controlled to strengthen the respiratory system without irritating the nerves.  By regulating the breath the mind is calm, desires are brought under control and one will be at peace.

"The yogi's life  is not measured by the number of his days but by the number of his breaths."

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com