Pranayama

• Pra: First
• Na: Energy
• Yama: Control

Although breathing is something that everyone does, few people ever stop to think about the practice. With each breath you take, you are bringing oxygen into your body. You’re transforming nutrients into fuel and helping to rid your body of toxins.

In yoga, air is thought to be the primarily life force that permeates the universe. The practice of pranayama helps the yogi get the maximum benefit from this life force, also known as prana.

In fact, one of the basic philosophies of yoga is that the breath and the mind are interdependent. If you think back on your own experiences, you can probably see how breathing affects your mental state. When you’re excited, you breathe more rapidly. This increases your heart rate and leads to being even more excited. In comparison, breathing slowly helps you feel more relaxed.

Pranayama is used in many different types of yoga, but it is most common among followers of Hatha yoga. The practice offers several benefits:

• Helps restrain and control the prana
• Helps prepare the mind for meditation
• Helps clear the body
• Increases the benefits of various yoga poses

Forms of Pranayama

There are many different forms of yoga breathing exercises. However, ujjayi, dirgha pranayama, and nadi shodhana are the most common types.

Ujjayi

Ujjayi tones the lungs, soothes the nerves, and helps to regulate blood pressure. It’s often practiced as part of a meditation session. Ujjayi is common in both Ashtanga yoga and power yoga.

Ujjayi is sometimes called the “sounding breath.” To someone who is unfamiliar with yoga, yogis who are performing this type of breath control sound like Darth Vader.

Click here to watch an online demonstration of ujjayi.

Dirgha Pranayama

Dirgha pranayama is sometimes called “complete breath” or “three-part breathing.” It purges the body of carbon dioxide, oxygenates the blood, and promotes relaxation. This type of yoga breathing is a form of diaphragmatic or "belly" breathing.

Click here to watch an online demonstration of dirgha pranayama.

Nadi Shodhana

Nadi shodhana is also known as the “sweet breath.” It’s a simple form of alternate nostril breathing that can be practiced by beginning yoga students. It’s often used to alleviate anxiety, headaches, and/or fatigue. However, this type of breath control can sometimes cause dizziness if not performed properly.

Click here for instructions on performing nadi shodhana.

Additional Information

If you’re interested in learning more about yoga breathing, check out the following books:

• The Light on Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing by B.K.S. Iyengar
• The Yoga of Breath: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pranayama by Richard Rosen
• The Little Book of Yoga Breathing: Pranayama Made Easy by Scott Shaw

You may also wish to purchase a DVD that covers the basics of various yoga breathing techniques. Relaxation & Breathing for Meditation is a good guide for beginners.