What Is Pranayama?

Did you know that asana, postures, are just a preliminary form of a yoga practice? Classically, physical postures were given to young individuals from ages 13–18 before progressing to more sophisticated and efficacious forms of practice.

Pranayama, breathing techniques, are generally prescribed for people in the householder stage of life—the time in our lives governed by commitments to family and work. In the West, it is especially difficult to carve out 90 minutes daily to practice when we have work, family, social, and personal commitments. This is where pranayama comes in!

A pranayama practice begins with gentle movement to get your prana (life force) circulating properly. A qualified teacher will set a pranayama practice for the individual the same way that a physical practice is created. It will have a warm-up, a main body of practice, and a cool down. Pranayama practices tend to be significantly shorter and deliver incredible results. And like a physical practice, a pranayama practice thrives on consistency and commitment.

There are several major techniques that are widely accepted in Hatha yoga. Each technique has an area of focus and direction of purpose. For example, nadi sodhana (alternate nostril breathing) is deeply cleansing, whereas Viloma ujjayi is invigorating, and pratiloma ujjayi is deeply focusing. These are generalizations, but it’s important to have the right technique for the correct individual (keeping in mind age, breath capacity, time of year, and even other conditions). It’s very important that you do not fall prey to new conventions that have no foundational and time-tested wisdom.

It’s wonderful that Western science supports the link between breath and mental state, but not all breathing patterns are created equal, and not all techniques are appropriate for each person. Remember that the more subtle the tool, the greater its impact!!

If you would like more guidance regarding pranayama or how to begin a personal breathing practice, let’s connect!