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Hatha Yoga

Pranayama

Prana is the controlling energy behind mind, body and breath. Actual traslation for Prana is not available in English. Pranayama in West means breathing exercise. But in reality it is regulation of energy behind all our mental and bodily activities. And through breath it can be easily regulated. In Sanskrit Aayaama means dimension. Pranayama means expanasion of Prana.

Main aim of Pranayama is to purify the Nadis and to make Kundalini power to reach Sahasrara Chakra from Muladhara chakra. Sage Patanjali in his Patanjala Yoga Darshana says Pranayama removes the veil of ignorance and leads one to Self realization.

Pranayama consists of three actions. One is Puraka(Inhalation of breath), Kumbhaka(Retention of breath) and Rechaka (Exhalation of breath).

There are eight important Pranayamas according to Hathayoga Pradipike. They are:

  1. Surya bhedha pranayama
  2. Ujjayi pranayama
  3. Sitkari pranayama
  4. Shitali pranayama
  5. Bhastrika pranayama
  6. Bhramari pranayama
  7. Murcha pranayama
  8. Plavini pranayama
Other Pranayamas are
  • Kaphala Bhati
  • Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama
  • Chandranuloma Pranayama
  • Suryanuloma
  • Nadi-Shuddhi Pranayama
  • Sama-Nadi-shuddhi Pranayama
  • Dhirgha-Shvasa-uchvasa Pranayama
  • Sukhapurvaka Pranayama
  • Suryabhedhana Sukhapurvaka Pranayama
  • Chandrabhedhana Sukhapurvaka Pranayama
  • Bahya-Kumbhaka-Sukhapurvaka Pranayama
  • Shavasana Pranayama
  • Sanchara Pranayama
  • Layabaddha Pranayama

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