The breath is our source of life and divine connection. The breath connects the mind, body, and soul. Within the breath is contained the Life Force - energy for life. In the breath we co-create our existence on all levels of our lives.
The breath that rises from the heart and goes out of the body is called the Prana . It is always warm and is, therefore, also called the sun. The breath that is taken in is the Apana. It is cool and is therefore also called the moon. The right regulation of the action of these, sun and moon, or Prana and Apana is Hathayoga. Hathayoga has four divisions or limbs: Asana (bodily postures), Pranayama (regulation of breath), Mudra (arrangement of fingers denoting mystic signs) and Nadanusandhana (hearing the inner sound).
Pranayama is the yoga of breath control. It has its origins in India. It is learning to discipline the patterns of breathing. After learning this, the harder disciplining of the mind becomes easier. In Bhakti, the point of this discipline is to make the entity that is the object of devotion the center of attention.
Most people use only a fraction of their lung capacity for breathing. They breathe shallowly, barely expanding the ribcage. Their shoulders are hunched, they have painful tension in the upper part of the back and neck, and they suffer from lack of oxygen.
The 3 components of the Pranayama are PURAKA - inhalation, KUMBHAKA - retention of the breadth, RECHAKA - exhalation.
There are three basic types of breathing.
1.Clavicular breathing is the most shallow and worst possible type. The shoulders and collarbone are raised while the abdomen is contracted during inhalation. Maximum effort is made, but a minimum amount of air is obtained. 2.Thoracic breathing is done with the rib muscles expanding the rib cage, and is the second type of incomplete breathing. 3.Deep abdominal breathing is the best, for it brings air to the lowest and largest part of the lungs. Breathing is slow and deep, and proper use is made of the diaphragm.
None of these types are complete. A full Yogic breath combines all three, beginning with a deep breath and continuing the inhalation through the intercostal and clavicular areas.
Precautions :
While practicing Pranayama, the body should be erect but not stiff, with lungs at ease so as to hold a large quantity of air and thus maintain an increasing length of Kumbhaka. When the lungs are not plastic, inhalation to the fullest extent is not possible, and the lungs themselves grow weak because of the currents of air dashing against them and the content of air within will become impure, and come out every now and then in the form of eructations. This is considered to be a most dangerous state. The only remedy in that case is to stop the practice of Pranayama altogether and to take to the practice of Asanas which will help the lungs to regain their strength.
