Pranayama is generally thought to be breathing exercises for cleansing of the mind and to purify the organs.  It certainly performs many cleansing functions in the body and the mind and cures many diseases but this is not the exact purpose of pranayama.     Pranayama is taught for control of mind, senses and intellect.

      The yogis used pranayama for cleansing of the nerves called nadis in Sanskrit language.  Nadis are channels when activated function as receiver and transmitter.   These nadis cannot be seen by a naked eye or under microscopic examination.    The Nadis are subtle, unless one practices and learns this under a qualified Guru it will not be easy to comprehend this fact, this can only be experienced when learnt under expert Gurus. All Yoga teachers cannot make one feel these nadis.    There are shat karmas or six disciplines of cleansing the body before pranayama, they cannot be performed without supervision, and they are relevant for Hath Yogic practices normal pranayama can be performed without the shat karmas.

     Pranayama disciplines are simple but require very strict dietary control.   The control of food is essential because each type of food we take has a particular effect on the body and mind.   For example, curd gives a cooling effect to the body, incase curd is consumed regularly along with pranayama practices one can develop problems in the joints. Similarly, excessive use of beverages can cause digestive disorders.    Those who perform pranayama should take light meals, the meals should be based upon green vegetables and milk and milk products.   All types of fruits are good.   One should avoid sour, bitter and over ripened fruits and vegetables.   One must also avoid stale and overcooked meals.   Chilies and hot food is best avoided, pre-cooked or canned foods are not recommended, and curd can be consumed during summer season.     Butter and clarified butter are good for those who practice pranayama.

     Pranayama exercises should be practiced with calm mind preceded with relaxation.   It is better to perform Shavasana before starting pranayama.   All exercises should be performed in sitting postures.   Head and neck should be straight.   The room should be well ventilated; smoke and dust can cause problems and should not be allowed in the room.    Minimum four hours gap between meals and pranayama is mandatory.    Little butter or Desi Ghee (butter oil one teaspoon) may be taken before the beginning of this practice; some oil may be applied in the nostrils. 

     Beginners may perform pranayama in the following sequence:

(a)     Deep Breathing.   Sit down comfortably in any one of the asana (meditative pose).   Inhale and exhale through the nostrils simultaneously without producing any kind of sound or noise.   While inhalation expand the lungs as much as possible, exhale slowly, keeps the eyes closed and watch the breath.   After a few breathes a feeling of lightness and welling will ensue.   Perform 5 to 10 rounds of this pranayama.

(b)      Skull Cleaning.   (Kapalabhati)   Sit comfortably and relax.   One must relax all the muscles and during this pranayama, do not contract the facial muscles while breathing.    Close your eyes, concentrate in the space in-between your eyebrows, exhale and contract the abdomen now start exhalation of breath continuously, do not make any effort or sound during inhalation.    In the beginning one may exhale once in 3 seconds, later once in a second, do 20 rounds to start with, increase it gradually to expulsions of 120 breaths in one round.     Perform 2-3 rounds morning and evening.    Kapalabhati purifies the nadis removes distractions of the mind.   It prepares the mind for meditation.    It cures chronic headaches, eye problems and digestive problems.  People with heart diseases and high blood pressure have also shown significant improvements but these patients have to perform this under supervision. People suffering from hiatus hernia should avoid this pranayama.

(c)     Bellows.   (Bhastrika)    Sit comfortably keep the back and neck erect, close the eyes.   Breathe in and out of both the nostrils forcibly in quick succession.   Practice each round of ten breathes to start with.   At the end of each round close both the nostrils and hold the breath as long as possible comfortably.   Slowly exhale.     The same process can be repeated through the right and left nostril separately.   Precautions must be taken not to perform the breathing violently.   If there is a feeling of giddiness or uneasy feeling in the stomach or abdomen it is indicative of faulty practice.    This exercise is a panacea for persons suffering form chest problems like asthma, bronchitis and throat diseases.   It balances and strengthens the nervous system.   Cleans the nadis.   It makes the mind light and pure, it prepares one for meditation.   This pranayama can only be practiced during early morning hours in summer seasons where the temperature exceeds 37 degree centigrade.

(d)     Cooling Pranayama.   (Sitali) Sit comfortably, open the mouth and make the lips round and extend the tongue outside, roll the sides of the tongue to form a tube.   Inhale through this tube, at the end of inhalation withdraw the tongue and close the mouth.   Lower the head, touch the chin with the chest, and retain the breath as long as possible with comfort.   Breathe out of the nostrils slowly.    This pranayama is to be practiced in summer months only.  In places where the temperature is 28 degrees centigrade or below this should not be practiced.   Retention of breath should not be practiced by persons suffering from heart ailments, chest problems and problems of the throat.   These persons can do the simple pranayama without retention of breath.   This pranayama cleans the blood. Cools the body and mind, regulates the temperature in the body.   It gives control over hunger and thirst.  It helps in control of problems of acidity of stomach and blood pressure.   One can practice 10 to 20 rounds. 

(e)     Hissing Pranayama.   (Shitkari)    Open the mouth and roll the tongue upwards to touch the palate, clench the teeth, keep the lips parted, and now breathe through the teeth making a hissing sound.   This pranayama keeps the teeth and gums healthy.    It gives strength to the body.   Rest of the benefits and instructions are the same as for Sitali pranayama.

(f)       Sound Producing Pranayama.   (Ujjayi) Sit comfortably; close the mouth and the eyes.   Exhale, close the glottis and inhale through both the nostrils smoothly.   Expand the chest during inhalation and produce uniform sound from the throat like that of snoring.   The sound should be natural there should be no labor to produce the sound.   One should not bloat the abdomen during inhalation.   This pranayama if done gently and correctly is extremely good for persons suffering from heart diseases and blood pressure.   It is very relieving to the mind it nourishes the brain cells. 

(g)     Energy Stimulating Pranayama.    (Surya Bheda Pranayama)   This is a vitality giving pranayama.   One should not perform this pranayama for more than 20 minutes or immediately after food.   Do not labor or force yourself during this pranayama.  Sit comfortably. Close the eyes and relax the complete body.   Keep the index finger and the middle finger of the right hand on the space between the eyebrows.  Close the left nostril by pressing it with the third and the little finger.  Inhale through the right nostril, at the end of inhalation close the right nostril with the thumb.   Retain the breath comfortably and exhale through the left nostril.   10 rounds of this pranayama are adequate.    Persons suffering from excessive acidity, heart ailments and epilepsy should not do this exercise.

(h)     Comfortable Breathing.   (Sukh Purvak Pranayama)  This is a psychic pranayama.   This purifies the nadis removes all diseases and steadies the mind for meditation and improves concentration.   Sit comfortably with back and head erect, close the right nostril with the right thumb, and gently inhale through the left nostril without making any sound.   After inhalation close the left nostril with the little and the ring finger, retain the breath for a few seconds comfortably and then release the breath slowly without making any sound or labor through the right nostril.   Now do the same practice with the inhalation from the right nostril.   This is one round.  Initially the ratio of inhalation retention and exhalation should be 1:2:2.   That is one second of inhalation, two seconds of retention and two seconds of exaltation.  One can start from 3 seconds of inhalation, 6 seconds of retention and 6 seconds of exhalation. One may gradually increase the counts as the lung capacity will increase with practice. One can continue this practice for two to three months then increase the ratio to 1:4:2.   If one suffers any discomfort it indicates that one is straining during retention and retaining the breath longer than ones capacity.   One must modify the practice accordingly.

   Pranayama makes the mind pure gradually and increases the individual concentration of the mind.  Pranayama is basis of Dharna or concentration, which leads to direct observation of the mind.    Observation of the mind assists one in the control of the mind.    The medical aspects of cleansing of various systems in the body and cure of a few diseases are a very small aspect of the practice of pranayama.    The main purpose of pranayama is removing the dirt of ignorance from the mirror or the mind.    The easiest way to remove the covering of filth accumulated on the mind is by practice of Pranayama.

   Warning.    Do not take a bath or expose your self to cool breeze (like air conditioned rooms, motor cycle rides etc. for at least 30 minutes after the practice of pranayama.    One is likely to catch cold and get exposure and infection to lungs.