Pranayama
(Breath Control – the fourth limb of Yoga)
Pranayama is
a special method of breath-control with which life-force is brought under
control and made regular. This is achieved by controlling the incoming and
outgoing breath.
How can we
perform Pranayama?
There are
three main stages:
-
Purak: This is the way of
drawing in breath slowly.
-
Stambhak: This is
retention of breath.
-
Rechak: This is the way of
letting out breath slowly.
There three
exercises should be done with ease. When discomfort is felt while
retaining the breath, it should be let out slowly. Through practice and
training the time taken for exhalation may be increased. The time for
Stambhak should be four times longer than Purak and Rechak should take
twice the time of Purak.
Method of
deep-breathing (as
outlined by Mahatma Narayanswami in his “Daily Prayer”)
a)
One should assume absolutely easy sitting or
squatting posture with one’s chest, neck and head being in a straight
perpendicular position.
b)
Breathe out slowly and when you have emptied
yourself, hold out your breath for as long a time as you can conveniently
do.
c)
When you feel uneasy, then breathe in slowly and
when you filled yourself, hold in your breath for as long a time as you
can conveniently do.
d)
When you feel uneasy in this action, then repeat
breathing out as you did previously.
e)
These processes must be continued for a sufficiently
long period of time to give a thorough exercise to the whole systems.