Yoga

Practice of Pranayama

Pranayama is the fourth part of Raja Yoga, which is described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Prana is the source from which all energy comes from. It is the universal substance. Pranayama is the knowledge and control of Prana.

Prana

The first description of the Prana is in the Upanishads. Prana is involved in any life form but is not itself the Atma or individual soul. Energy subtle “of prana is not far in its concept of Qi (spirituality), ki or Chi Tao, that the acupuncture seeks to regulate.

The philosophy of yoga breath, or air, is simply an investment of prana in the body. It may be noted that the proximity of the prana and the breath is present also in Western languages with the term ’spirit, “spiritus” (breath, breath of life, soul).

Nadis

Prana circulating in the body through a network of subtle channels, the nadis (quite similar to the meridians Chinese. The three main nadis: ida, Pingala and sushumna. It is said that the channel is ida and Pingala correlate with breathing clean nostril to the left or right. For science, however, there was not really breathing left or right, both nostrils were separated by a thin wall that disappears a few inches from the entrance.

When the Prana concerns a period of intensified activity, the tradition of Yoga speaks of “Pranotthana.

Pranayama Techniques

In yoga, pranayama techniques are used to control the movement of subtle energies in the body, producing an increase of vitality in the adept. However, the practice of these techniques is not insignificant and in some circumstances pranayama techniques can disrupt the balance of life. The possibility of harmful effects resulting from these techniques should not be underestimated.

Among the most common exercises pranayama are:

• the mere awareness of breathing,
• complete breathing, which involves successively lower abdomen, the region of the stomach, the chest and the clavicle (this to the end as the inspiration)
• breathing alternating right nostril inspiration, expiration left nostril, then the reverse; Closing unused nostril by pressing with a finger but you can learn how to move with the training,
• glottique breathing, which was obtained by thinking drawing air through a hole located at the larynx, one must feel the air flow at this level and hear a gentle breath.

In any event, it is a slow breathing (3 to 4 cycles per minute), very regular basis, including during the postures. (This does not preclude the use of rapid breathing in some years.)

The concentration of attention to the respiratory mucosa results in a slower heartbeat, which in the yogini trained to go to a temporary suspension of the heart.

Only once the Asanas (postures) and exercises performed on the prana that meditation could be addressed effectively.