10. Breath control (pranayama)

Breath control (pranayama), of various kinds, is important in almost all systems of yoga.

In the Nath texts, several techniques are described; they are practised for related purposes: to 'cleanse' the psycho-physical system, including particular nadis; and to direct vital energy in the body into the central sushumna nadi (near the spine) so that it may activate the rising of kundalini.

Among the various regimens and types of pranayama discussed are:

bhastrika (rapidly and forcefully expelling air from the nose);

surya bhedana (drawing air in through the right nostril and expelling it through the left nostril);

shitali (drawing air in through a curled tongue, to cool the body);

ujjayi (breathing with the throat slightly contracted);

khumbaka (forceful retention of breath; up to eight kinds of this exercise are mentioned); puraka (inhaling and retaining breath through alternate nostrils); and rechaka (prolonged expulsion of breath).

It is sometimes recommended that Pranayama be accompanied by visualizations of deities and the recitation of mantras. Some exercises are performed when one is partially submerged in water.

Pranayama also enables the regulation of the 'breaths' that reside in the body. The chief breath, prana, appears in the Brhadaranyaka and Chandogya Upanishads; it denotes ordinary breath and the life-force.

Other ‘breaths’ appear in later texts and also in Ayurvedic texts. In the Upanishads, although not always clear, there is an identification of prana with breathing out, apana with breathing in, udana with breath moving up, vyana with the breath that traverses, samana with the breath that equalizes or links.

According to Nath texts, five major and five minor breaths are explained. In the Gorakshashataka the five major breaths are as follows:

1. prana is seated in the heart and is the breath;
2. apana is situated in the lower trunk, seated in the rectum, and regulates urination and excretion;
3. samana resides in the navel and governs the function of digestion;
4. udana lies in the middle of the throat and governs the function of speech;
5. vyana pervades the whole body.

The five minor breaths are:
1. naga, which causes eructation;
2. kurma, which functions in winking;
3. krkara, causing sneezing or hunger;
4. revadatta, causing yawning;
5. dhananjaya, which is the breath that remains in the body after death.

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