Etymology, Definition, Aim and

Objectives of Pranayama.
• It is the fourth step of Astanga Yoga.
• Pranayama may be considered to be an intermediate
between the physical (Yogasana) and mental (Pratyahara,
Dharana & Dhyana) Yogic practices.
• Prana makes our Pranamaya kosha, the second vital sheath
of Panchakosha (our personality or exstistance)
• According to Yogic terminology a systemic process by
which one gains control over prana is referred as
Pranayama.
 Definition of Pranayama
•

• Prāṇa + Āyāma = Prāṇāyāma

•
 Etymology & Meaning of Pranayama

• The word Pranayama is a combination of two Sanskrit word

‘Prana’ & ‘Ayama’.
• ‘Prana’ means Subtle life force which provides energy to
different organ (including mind)& ‘Ayama’ means control &
extension.
• This extension of Prana is indeed considered as the inside the
body & may be considered as to increase the receptivity to
receive the prana.
 Definition of Pranayama

तस्मिन् सतत श्वासप्रश्वास्योर्गतततिच्छे दः

प्राणायामः ॥४९॥
Tashminsatiswashprashwasyorga-
tivichchhedaha pranayamah.
PYS 2/49
 Objective of Pranayama

ततः क्षीयते प्रकाशािरणम् ॥५२॥

Tatah chheeyate prakashavaram.
PYS 2/52

धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः ॥५३॥

Dharnasu cha yogyata manasah.
PYS 2/53
General Benefits of Pranayama
• Improves quality of blood, increase Oxygen in the
lungs, eliminate toxins from the body.
• Increase the digestion.
• Improve the health of nervous system, brain,
spinal cord and nerve centers.
• Rejuvenates the glands, especially the pituitary
and pineal.
• Rejuvenates the skin.
 General Benefits of Pranayama
• Regular and control movements of diaphragm
massage abdominal organs and heart by increasing the
blood circulation.

• The lungs becomes healthy and powerful.

• Deep slow Yogic breathing reduces blood pressure and
heart disease.

• A very good Yoga practice for weight management.

Introduction of Meditation

9
 DHYANA (Meditation)

•Yoga is essentially spiritual and Dhyana is an important

and an internal part of Yoga Sadhana.

Tatra pratyaya-eka-tanata dhyanam. (P.Y.III-2)

•Dhyana (Meditation) is the continuous and effortless
flow of attentive awareness towards the object of
concentration.
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 DHYANA (Meditation)
•In meditation the mind becomes one with the object
of concentration.

•The practice of meditation involves control of mental

functions which starts with initial withdrawal of the
senses from the external objects.

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 DHYANA (Meditation)
•The basic principle is here is to develop internal
awareness.

•There are several meditation techniques like- Vipasyana,

Preksha, Transcendental and Om meditation, but start
with simple techniques like breath awareness, “OM”
chanting etc., and progress gradually to the higher state
of meditation.

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 DHYANA (Meditation)

•Disorders like; Depression, Anxiety Neurosis, Hypertension,

Bronchial Asthma, Cardio vascular diseases etc., can be
effectively managed by the proper practice of Meditation.

•Body and mind get rejuvenated as heart rate respiratory

rate and BMI are lowered.
Scattered and disorganized mind is brought to a state of
peace and tranquility.
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• Tasmin sati Shwasa-prashwasa-
yorgativichedah

Traditional benefits

1. Tatah ksheeyate prakashavaranam – uncovers

the covering of light (knowledge)
2. Dharanasu cha yogyatah manasa (Prepares
the mind for concentration)
 Phases of Pranayama

• Puraka

• Kumbhaka

• Rechaka
Classification and Types of
Pranayama as reffered in
Diferent Yogic Text
Pranayama in Hathayogapradipika
Pranayama
Puraka Kumbhaka Recaka

» Suryabhedana
» Ujjayi
» Sitkari
» Sitali
» Bhastrika
» Bhramari
» Murccha
» Plavini
Pranayama in Gherandasamhita
Pranayama
Puraka Kumbhaka Recaka

SahitaKumbhaka KevalaKumbhaka

» Sahita

Sagarbha Nigarbha
» Suryabhedana
» Ujjayi
» Sitali
» Bhastrika
» Bhramari
» Murccha
» Kevali
 According to P.Y.S.
Four types of Pranayama
• Bahyavritti
• Abhyantarvritti
• Stambhavritti
• Bahyaabhyantarvisayakshepi.
 Nadishodhana Pranayama
• Nadishodhana is a pre-requisite & essential practice
before practicing of an types of Pranayama.
• Nadishodhan Pranayama is also known as Anuloma-
viloma Pranayama.
• The benefits of Nadishodhan Pranayama are
मलाकलासु नाडीषु मारुतो नै ि मध्यर्ः ।
कथं स्याद् उन्मनीभािः कायगतसस्मधः कथं भिेत् ॥४॥
“Malakulashunadisu maruto na ava gachati,
Pranayamam kathah siddhastha, tatvajananam katham
bhavet.”
Pre requisites
 Time:
 Duration
 Season
 Teacher
 Requirement for Yogasana practice
 Who can practice?
 How can practice?
 How many hours of practice everyday?
 Pre-requisite of Prānāyāma

First of all ( one should look to) these three things –

(suitable) place and time, wholesome food in
moderation and purification of the Nadis and after that
begins Pranayama
 Pre-requisite of Prānāyāma

One should not begin the pratice of Yoga in this

seasons, viz. Hemanta , Sisira , Grisma and Varsa. If
practised, Yoga causes sickness.
Pre-requisite of Prānāyāma

It is said that one should begin the practice of Yoga in

Vasanta and Śarada. Thereby the Yogi attains success and
verily he becomes free from diseases.
Pre-requisite of Prānāyāma

He should sit on a thick seat of

Kuśa-grass, antelopeskin, tiger
skin, a blanket, facing the East or
the North, having purified the
Nāḍīs, he should practise
Prāṇāyāma.
Pre-requisite of Prānāyāma

When the Nāḍīs are full impurities, Vāyu does not

enter them. How can Prāṇāyāma be successful and
how can one know the truth? Therefore, first of all,
purify the Nāḍīs and then begin the practice of
Prāṇāyāma.
Concept of Nāḍiśuddhi

Purification of Nāḍis is of two kinds:

Samanu and Nirmanu. Samanu is
done to the accopaniment of
Bījamantra, while Nirmanu is done by
Dhauti Karma.
 Ň

Through the proper practice of Prāṇāyāma

there is freedom from all diseases. By a
mistaken course of Yoga, brings upon himself
all diseases.
• Hiccups, asthma, coughs, headache, ear and eye
pain, and various other diseases are due to
disturbances of the vital air.
Concept of Prānāyāma

According to Hathapradipika:- There are eight (kinds of)

Kumbhakas; viz. Sūryabhedana, Ujjāyī, Sītkārī, Śitalī,
Bhastrikā, Bhrāmarī, Mūrcchā and Plāvinī.
According to Gheranda Samhita:- There are eight Kumbhakas,
viz. Sahita, Sūryabheda, Ujjāyī, Sitalī, Bhastrikā, Bhrāmari,
Mūrcchā and Kevalī.
Concept of Sūryabhedana

Assuming a firm Āsana on a comfortable seat and slowly

drawing in external air through the right nostril,
Kumbhaka (retention of breath) is to be practised until
one feels the (effect of) retention (of breath) upto the
hairs and the tips of the nails. Then the breath is to be
slowly exhaled through the left nostril.
Concept of Sūryabhedana

This excellent (practice), Sūryabhedana,

should be practised again and again. It
cleanses the frontal sinuses, destroys the
disorders of (the Āyurvedic humour) Vāta and
the diseases caused by worms.
Concept of Ujjāyī

Closing the mouth, one should slowly

draw in air through both the nostrils,
producing a sound, in such a way that its
touch is felt from the throat to the chest.
Concept of Ujjāyī

After performing Kumbhaka as before (in

Sūryabhedana), air is exhaled through the left
nostril. This removes from the throat diseases
caused by phlegm and increases the gastric fire.
Concept of Ujjāyī

It (also) destroys all the diseases of the Nāḍīs,

dropsy, and diseases of the Dhātūs, Hence,
moving or resting, one should practise the
Kumbhaka called Ujjāyī.
Concept of Sītkārī

Through the mouth the sound sit

should be produced (while inhaling),
and exhalation should be done only
through the nose. By practising
assiduously in this manner on (the
Yogī) becomes a second cupid.
Concept of Sītkārī

He is surrounded by hosts of admiring Yoginīs;

acquires the capability of creating and destroying
(the universe); and never feels hungry, thirsty,
sleepy, or lazy.
Concept of Sītkārī

There is no doubt that (by practising) in

this manner one (the Yogī) acquires
complete control over one’s body,
remains free from all calamities and
becomes the most eminent Yogī on the
face of the earth.
Concept of Śītalī

Inhaling by (manipulating) the tongue

Kumbha (retention of breath) should be
performed, as before, and then the wise
(Yogī) should exhale slowly through both
the nostrils.
Concept of Śītalī

This Kumbhaka, called Śītalī,

destroys diseases like glandular
enlargements and disorders of
the spleen, fever, disorders of
bile, hunger, thirst and (all)
poisons (that he may swallow).
Concept of Bhastrikā

Getting settled in Padmāsana, the wise should,

with the neck and body held erect, close the
mouth and effortfully exhale through the nostrils,
making a sould, so that exhalation is felt in the
chest, throat and (inhaled) air reaches the cardiac
region (i.e. the lungs).
Concept of Bhastrikā

The Yogī should exhale and inhale in

this manner again and again. (Care
should be taken that) air is moved in
and out of one’s body rapidly in the
manner in which the blacksmith
moves the bellows.
Concept of Bhastrikā

And should completely fill the thoracic cavity

with air quickly; then hold the nose tightly
without using the middle or the index finger
and performing Kumbhaka as prescribed,
throw the air out through the left nostril.
Concept of Bhastrikā

It awakens the Kuṇḍalinī soon, purifies (the

Yogī) and proves to be beneficial (for him);
removes the impediments like phlegm
settled at the mouth of the Brahmanāḍī
(Suṣumnā).
Concept of Bhastrikā

Special attention should be given to the

Kumbhaka called Bhastrā, as it effectively
cuts the three knots in the body (in the
Suṣumnā).
Concept of Bhrāmarī

As a result of practicing rapid inhalation, producing a

sound resembling the hum of a male bee, (and after
performing Kumbhaka) slow exhalation, producing the
very low hum of a female bee, an indescribable blissful
experience fills the minds of eminent Yogis.
Concept of Mūrcchanā

At the end of Pūraka (inhalation) one (the aspirant) should adopt a

very firm Jālandhara (Bandha) and exhale slowly. This is known as
Mūrcchanā (Kumbhaka). It leads to loss of (all) awareness and
gives pleasure.
Concept of Plāvinī

With the stomach completely

filled with a liberal quantity of
air introduced (through the
mouth and the oesophagus) a
a Yogī easily floats like a lotus
leaf even on deepest water.
Concept of Prānāyāma

Prāṇāyāma is said to consist of three processes;

viz., Recaka (exhalation), Pūraka (inhalation) and
Kumbhaka (retention of breath). Kumbhaka is of
two types; Sahita and Kevala. Sahita is to be
practised until one attains Kevala (Kumbhaka).
Concept of Kevala

Without exhalation or inhalation,

when the breath is retained with
ease, this sort of Prāṇāyāma is called
Kevala Kumbhaka.
Concept of Kevala

When this Kevala Kumbhaka has

been mastered without any
exhalation or inhalation, there is
nothing unattainable by him in
the three worlds.
Concept of Kevala

He who is fully competent through

this Kevala Kumbhaka, through the
control of breath, obtains even the
stage of Rājayoga. There is no doubt
about this.
Concept of Kevala

ý
Through Kumbhaka, the Kuṇḍalinī is aroused;
through arousing Kuṇḍalinī, the Suṣumnā is
free of all obstacles, and perfection in
Haṭhayoga is obtained.
THANK YOU