Pranayama is a Sanskrit word made up of two halves, “prana” and “yama” or “ayama” which means life force.
According to the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Pranayama is the art and science of yogic breathing techniques, producing the benefits of physical well-being, lightness of heart, clarity of mind, inner and outer health and fulfillment and believe it or not, weight loss. There is a wonderful article on prayanama practices published on the Kripalu Institute website.
The following breathing exercises can help to produce the results listed above.
Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
Gently exhale all of your air, then close your right nostril with your thumb and inhale slowly and deeply through your left nostril. Next, close your left nostril with your ring finger and exhale slowly and gently through your right nostril. Inhale through your right nostril and continue alternate nostril breathing for 10 rounds, eventually increasing to 40 rounds.
Kapala Bati (Skull Shining)
Inhale and exhale quickly and lightly through both nostrils and emphasize and then exhale completely. Emphasize the exhalation and let the inhale come as natural reflex. You will want to practice 3 rounds of 30 exhalations building to 10 rounds of 60. Make sure to rest and breathe naturally between rounds
Mantras
Inhale – Koham (Who am I)
Retention – Soham (I am that)
Exhale – Noham (I am not this)
