Pranayama (Sanskrit:
प्राणायाम prāṇāyāma) is a
Sanskrit
word meaning "extension of the prana or breath" or more accurately,
"extension of the life force". The word is composed of two Sanskrit
words,
Prāna,
life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "ayāma", to
extend or draw out. (Not 'restrain, or control' as is often incorrectly
translated from 'yama' instead of 'ayama').
Pranayama (
Devanagari:
प्राणायाम,
prāṇāyāma) is a Sanskrit compound.
V. S. Apte provides fourteen different meanings for the word
prana (
Devanagari:
प्राण,
prāṇa) including these:
- Breath, respiration
- The breath of life, vital air, principle of life (usually plural in
this sense, there being five such vital airs generally assumed, but
three, six, seven, nine, and even ten are also spoken of)
- Energy, vigor
- The spirit or soul
Of these meanings, the concept of "vital air" is used by
Bhattacharyya to describe the concept as used in Sanskrit texts dealing
with pranayama.
Thomas McEvilley translates "prana" as "spirit-energy".
Its most subtle material form is the breath, but is also to be found in
blood, and its most concentrated form is semen in men and vaginal fluid
in women.
Monier-Williams defines the compound
prāṇāyāma as (m., also pl.) "N. of the three 'breath-exercises' performed during
Saṃdhyā (
See pūraka,
recaka,
kumbhaka"
This technical definition refers to a particular system of breath control with three processes as explained by Bhattacharyya:
pūraka (to take the breath inside),
kumbhaka (to retain it), and
recaka (to discharge it).
There are also other processes of pranayama in addition to this three-step model.
Macdonell gives the etymology as
prāṇa +
āyāma and defines it as "
m. suspension of breath (
sts. pl.)".
Apte's definition of
āyāmaḥ derives it from
ā +
yām
and provides several variant meanings for it when used in compounds.
The first three meanings have to do with "length", "expansion,
extension", and "stretching, extending", but in the specific case of use
in the compound
prāṇāyāma he defines
āyāmaḥ as meaning "restrain, control, stopping".
An alternative etymology for the compound is cited by Ramamurti Mishra, who says that:
Expansion of individual energy into cosmic energy is called prāṇāyāma (prāṇa, energy + ayām, expansion).
Alternate nostril breathing (ANB) Pranyama also called Nadisuddhi
pranyama is one of the beneficial Pranayama for cardiopulmonary
functions. Regular practice of ANB (Nadisudhi) increases parasympathetic
activity and lowers systolic blood pressure and Respiratory rate too.
Prana is a subtle invisible force. It is the life-force that pervades
the body. It is the factor that connects the body and the mind, because
it is connected on one side with the body and on the other side with
the mind. It is the connecting link between the body and the mind. The
body and the mind have no direct connection. They are connected through
Prana only.
Yoga primarily works with the energy in the body through the science
of pranayama or energy-control. Prana also means ‘breath.’ Yoga teaches
how to still the mind through breath-control and attain higher states of
awareness. The higher teachings of yoga take one beyond techniques and
show the yogi or yoga practitioner how to direct his concentration in
such a way as not only to harmonize human with divine consciousness, but
to merge his consciousness in the Infinite.
Hatha
and Raja Yoga Varieties
Some scholars distinguish between hatha and raja yoga varieties of
pranayama, with the former variety usually prescribed for the beginner.
According to
Taimni,
hatha yogic pranayama involves manipulation of pranic currents through
breath regulation for bringing about the control of chitta-
vrittis
and changes in consciousness, whereas raja yogic pranayama involves the
control of chitta-vrittis by consciousness directly through the will of
the mind.
Students qualified to practice pranayama are therefore always initiated first in the techniques of hatha pranayama.
Bhagavad Gītā
Pranayama is mentioned in verse 4.29 of the
Bhagavad Gītā.
According to
Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is,
"prāṇāyāma" is translated to "trance induced by stopping all
breathing", also being made from the two separate Sanskrit words,
"prāṇa" and "āyāma".
Pranayama is the fourth 'limb' of the eight limbs of
Ashtanga Yoga mentioned in verse 2.29 in the
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Patanjali discusses his specific approach to pranayama in verses 2.49
through 2.51, and devotes verses 2.52 and 2.53 to explaining the
benefits of the practice.
Patanjali does not fully elucidate the nature of prana, and the theory
and practice of pranayama seem to have undergone significant development
after him.
He presents pranayama as essentially an exercise that is preliminary to concentration, as do the earlier Buddhist texts.
Many yoga teachers advise that pranayama should be part of an overall
practice that includes the other limbs of Patanjali's Raja Yoga
teachings, especially
Yama,
Niyama, and
Asana.
Medical
Several researchers have reported that pranayama techniques are beneficial in treating a range of
stress-related disorders,
improving autonomic functions,
relieving symptoms of asthma
(though a different study did not find any improvement
and reducing signs of
oxidative stress.
Practitioners report that the practice of pranayama develops a steady mind, strong will-power, and sound judgement,
and also claim that sustained pranayama practice extends life and enhances perception.
Cautions
Many yoga teachers recommend that pranayama techniques be practiced
with care, and that advanced pranayama techniques should be practiced
under the guidance of a teacher. For example, people with high blood
pressure must perform it cautiously or may even have to avoid it. These
cautions are also made in traditional Hindu literature.
Pregnant women may have to forgo pranayama.
