A well-constructed, gentle and effortless pranayama practice enables crucial steps on the yoga path. What is important for such a practice and how it can be designed.
At first glance, pranayama practices are nothing more than breathing techniques. But the real significance lies in the crucial subtle aspect of pranayama, which allows the practitioner to have intense spiritual experiences, at least for brief moments. These states or experiences together with regular, subtle, precise practice help with further work on the yoga path to and on yourself.
Breath, as a manifestation of life energy, is the only pranic energy that we can influence at least to a certain extent in a voluntary, regulatory manner. In Pranayama, having access to the activity of life energy occurs through the connection to the nervous system (as the basis of mental activities) and to the mind (consciousness). Yoga assumes that the mind can be effectively controlled through the willful regulation of breathing.
Pranayama in the Yoga Sutra
In the eight-limb (ashtanga) yoga path according to Patanjali, pranayama is the fourth stage/limb. Through the practice of the first three limbs – Yama and Niyama as well as Asanas – the practitioner achieves a certain physical and mental stability in order to be able to practice Pranayama appropriately. Patanjali says in Sutra II.49: “Pranayama is the cessation/cessation (Vichchheda) of the regular rhythmic movement of inhalation and exhalation (Shvasa-Prashvasa).” During and through Pranayama, the breath is lengthened (dirgha) and becomes subtle (sukshma ) (II. 50). By gradually, effortlessly extending all breathing phases, you acquire continuous awareness, the ability to be mindful and remain mindful. The mind is enabled to enter the state of Dharana (II.53). The yoga practitioner will be able to quiet the wandering mind. Through Pranayama – says Patanjali in II.52 – the covering over the inner light disappears, that is, the factors that cover or obscure the spiritual light are eliminated.
Pranayama in Hatha Yoga
In Hatha yoga, pranayama is second only to asanas. The classic pranayama practice is called “kumbhaka” there because the concept of pranayama is linked to the control (kumbhaka) of breathing. Eight variants are described (HYP II.44), with all of them emphasizing the internal breathing behavior (Kumbhaka after inhalation)
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