What is Pranayama?

• Stopping all the external transactions is styled as ‘Pranayama’ ( Pranayama)

• To throw out all the illusory conceptions of the cosmos is “Rechaka”
• To take in the conception that ‘I am Brahman’ (thou and that- thath-thvam-asi) is “Pooraka”
• To retain the knowledge steadily is “Kumbhaka”.

This is the technical meaning of the Pranayama. Pranayama is not just regulation of breathing as most people might have (mis) understood. Pranayanama is the fourth out of the eight principles of Yoga. 

The process:

1)      Take your right hand thumb and second last finger (ring finger), hold it together and hold your nose.

2)      Release your breath (breathe out) from one side of the nostril. As you release your breath from the nostril throw out all illusory conceptions of the cosmos. Here the term illusory conceptions denote all material desires, which are merely illusions. Cosmos does not refer the physical cosmos but the inner cosmos. This is called “RECHAKA”

3)      Once you have done step no (2) then breathe in and take in the conception that ‘I am Brahman’. (The supreme). This is called “POORAKA”.

4)  Hold your breath for 30 seconds. This step is called as “KUMBHAKA”. This is to retain the knowledge that you have taken in. The knowledge that you are the ‘Brahman’. Realising yourself. For starters please start with 10 seconds and then gradually increase up to 30 else you might find it difficult to breathe.

Thus Pranayama therefore is not just any breathing exercise as understood and taught by many practitioners. ( yoga by itself is not just an exercise as mis understood by many across the world).The practice of Pranayama is a major part in the everyday (thrice a day) ‘Sandhyavandanam’ performed or to be performed by every one who is practicing the Hindu Dharma thus realizing the Brahman.