Pranayama

Pranayama is the fourth limb of Raja Yoga expounded in the Yoga Sutras of Pata?jali. Prana is the source of which energy evolves from. It is the universal substrate. Pranayama is the knowledge and control of Prana.

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In a scientific manner Pata?jali proceeds from the external sheath of man and slowly proceeds to the subtler and subtler sheaths. Breath and mind are closely interdependent and interpenetrating.

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Control of breath means the cessation of the outgoing and ingoing movements of breath. Breath is the gross representative of the subtle, vital force inside the body. Just as by catching hold of the key of a timepiece you do not allow it to move and the subtler cog wheels and finally the subtlest hair-spring come to a standstill, even so, by the control of that force which sets into motion the mind, the mind stops its motion. It is Prana that makes the mind move. If the Prana is stopped the mind cannot move and a state of stillness (Manonasha) comes.

Raja Yoga: : For the style of Ashtanga Yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India see Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga....

Yoga Sutras: REDIRECT Yoga Sutras of Patanjali...

Prana: In Hinduism, Prana is the infinite matter of which energy is born....