Introduction
Pranayama is an important practice in Hatha Yoga. Svatmarama says that, even Brahma and other gods in heaven devote themselves to practicing pranayama because it ends the fear of death. Thus, it must be practiced (Hatha Yoga Pradipika 2:39).
By the practice of pranayama, man becomes God (Gheranda Samhita 5:1). By pranayama, the power of levitation is attained, diseases are cured, the spiritual energy Shakti is awakened, and calmness of mind and mental powers such as clairvoyance attained. The mind becomes full of bliss and the practitioner is happy (Gheranda Samhita 5:57).
The word pranayama consists of two parts, prana meaning the life force energy or simply that which is infinitely everywhere and ayama, to stretch, to extend. Generally, pranayama has been defined as the practice of controlling the breath with the ultimate aim of transcending body and mind and experiencing the higher Self.
THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM says that what we call as breath is usually the simple exchange of oxygen to keep the body alive. Here, the breath we generally experience is the air movement that awakens thoughts along with it. That breathing should be stopped. You are not taking pure prana along with the air movement, if the thoughts are awakened. The more the thoughts, the less life energy goes inside. If there are fewer thoughts, more prana goes inside. When breath with thoughts ceases, pranayama happens, expansion of our life energy happens. We should learn the art of breathing without awakening thoughts.
The science of pranayama teaches you the breath that does not awaken the thoughts. The goal of pranayama is to prepare the body and mind to experience higher states of consciousness and ultimately experience the state of yoga – superconsciousness. Good health, increased vitality, bliss and healing are the side effects along the way.
Kumbhaka or breath retention is the essence of pranayama. The kumbhaka, the neutral space or gap where there no inhale or exhale leads to pure prana going in and settling down in the body, inducing the experience of maximal physiological, psychological, and spiritual benefits.
Pranayama involves the practice of breath control in combination with bandhas and mudras. Without bandhas, pranayama is incomplete. The three bandhas – jalandhara, uddiyana and moola should be done together or in different combinations. By contracting the perineum and, the throat and drawing the abdomen up, the prana flows into the brahma nadi. At the end of inhalation, jalandhara bandha is performed. At the end of kumbhaka and beginning of exhalation, uddiyana bandha is performed (Hatha Yoga Pradipika 2:45-46). It is essential to have the guidance of an experienced teacher when practicing pranayamas to avoid imbalance in the body.