Pranayama

Pranayama is the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga. The word is a compound of "Prana" and "Yama", and is understood as the maintenance of prana (the vital life-force) in a healthy manner throughout one's life. It is far more than a simple breath-control exercise — it is the art of the life force. The ancient yogis, who understood the essence of prana, studied it closely and devised methods to master it; these methods came to be known as Pranayama.

Because breath (prana) is basic to life, the practice of Pranayama helps a person harness the prana in and around them, and by deepening and extending the breath it leads the practitioner to a state of inner peace.

Classification (Hatha Yoga)

According to the Hatha Yoga texts, the pranayamas may be classified as:

• Surya Bhedi
• Ujjai
• Sitkari
• Sitli
• Bhastrika
• Bhramari
• Murchha
• Kewali

The purpose of breath control

Ordinary breathing is shallow, irregular and largely unconscious. Pranayama trains the breath to become slow, deep and consciously controlled, because in yogic physiology the breath is the most direct handle we have on the otherwise-involuntary flow of prana. By controlling the breath, a practitioner gradually learns to influence the nervous system and the mind — which is why Pranayama stands between the physical limbs (Asana) and the purely mental limbs (Pratyahara onward) in the eightfold path.

How it fits with Asana

A steady, comfortable asana is a prerequisite for Pranayama: the body must be still before the breath can be observed and regulated without strain. This is why Ashtanga Yoga places Asana immediately before Pranayama — one cannot safely or effectively practise deep breath control while the body is unstable or uncomfortable. …