Yogi Corner - The Sutras of Patanjali: Pranayama

Yogi Corner: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Pranayama)

The most famous part of the Yoga Sutras is called the "eight limbs." Sometimes referred to as branches, these limbs are to be worked on until the impurities are dwindled away in order to achieve yoga. For June we will move past the asanas and into the realm of the breath, or what we yogis call "pranayama.".

"Tasmin Sati Svasa Prasvasayor Gati Vicchedah Pranayamah." 

B.2, V.49

Translation: That (firm posture) being acquired, the movements of inhalation and exhalation should be controlled. This is pranayama.

Unlike the sections on the asanas, pranayama practices fare a little better in the Sutras. Patanjali first discusses them here in the 49th verse of book two. Interesting, he says that after doing the asanas properly, one may progress to the breathing exercises. Go to any yoga class as a newcomer and you will most definitely be learning pranayama. In fact in my classes and teachings I emphasize it. So does this make me or any other yoga teacher that teaches pranayama to students before they master asana wrong? This is a question that I have often pondered since I read in B.K.S. Iyengar's book Light on Pranayama the importance of not teaching pranayama techniques to students who have not mastered their physical practice first. In my opinion, from further studies with other teachers as well as in my own practice and with students, I have come to the humble conclusion that the benefits of a pranayama practice on people in current-day society far outweighs the idea of withholding the information. In fact, my practice and teachings could not exist without the breath/movement synchronization (vinyasa) style that I teach. 

The breath should be gentle, slow and fully controlled, without any agitation. When performing postures, I find this to be particularly helpful. For without the breath's notification, how else would we really know that we may be stressing the body too much? And after a stressful day at the office, school or home, how else do we settle our mind and become still? No, to me and many other yoga teachers, the breathe is too key to leave out of the teachings now-a-days, and so, we share them.

Of course there are certain breathing techniques that have contra-indications attached to them. Perhaps this is where some of this old logic stemmed from? For instance, the kapalbhati breath, or what we know as the "breath of fire," is a very difficult breath to perform for most healthy people at first. However, if you are pregnant, menstruating, have had recent surgery, inflammation of the thoracic region, suffer from emphysema or hypertension, this breathing completely contraindicated. Maybe you did not know this. It is not a breath that we practice with great frequency in our studio, but many other studios emphasize it a great deal, especially in the kundalini yoga practice. 

Most of the breathing techniques that we instruct at ONE are good to do under most normal conditions or with certain modifications. The "Surrender" breath is good for everyone to do any time! The ujjayi (ocean sounding) breath and the counted breath (we call it the 4,4,8) are both very calming to the nervous system and fairly simple to achieve for most people. The nostril breathing technique called Nadi Shodhana has various benefits, however if you are congested, have a fever or cold, it is contraindicated to perform it. That advise is probably very easily understood as you would have trouble breathing anyway and remember, the breath in the practice should at all times be gentle, slow and controlled. If you cannot control it, then practice a different pranayama until it is mastered and then you can move on to another one.

Prana is the cosmic force that moves everything. When we perform pranayama practices, we are directing and controlling the flow of prana. There are different types of prana, but for now rely on the knowledge of your teacher to guide you. And as always, keep your teacher abreast of any issues that you are experiencing so that we can assist you in making your yoga practice the best suited for you - even in a group setting.

Let's all practice now together: take a big inhale through the nose, open the mouth and sigh out the exhale: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." Come on, yoga class without pranayama? That's like chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips!

Inhale = puraka

Retention = Kumbhaka

Exhale = Rechaka

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Namaste.