Pranayam Guru - Pranayam Guide

Pranayam or Pranayama is a breathing exercise which promotes proper breathing. In the Yogic point of view, proper breathing is to bring more oxygen to the blood and to the brain, and to control Prana or the vital life energy. So doing pranayam ultimately improves your health and makes your mind calm and steady. One really feels fresh and relaxing after doing pranayam.
Visit the full Pranayam Guide to know about various pranayams.

Pranayam (also known as 'Pranayama') is a sanskrit word made of two words 'Prana' + 'Ayama'. Prana is a vital force which prevails the whole cosmos. In living beings it can be thought of 'vital life energy' or even in more simple words you can think it as the air we breathe in, Prana is a subtle and breath is gross. Ayama means to control or to give a rhythm or a definite flow. Overall Pranayam is a systematic exercise of respiration, which makes the lungs stronger, improves blood circulation, makes the mind calm and thus leading man to a healthier life. There are infact a lot more benefits of Pranayam.
Pranayama were developed centuries ego by the ancient yogis of India. One of such great yogi was Maharshi Patanjali. Practicing pranayam is very easy and if done regularly cures many diseases and helps you get a healthy body and mind. Since the vedic period Pranayams are done by Rishis and yogis or gurus and are adviced to masses also. Though a lot of Gurus are there who teaches pranayams today also but the real credit of makeing pranayams so popular among masses in modern India and world goes mostly to Swami Ramdev
Some people associate Yoga or Pranayams to a particular religion, but Yoga and Pranayam are not religious activities. They are associated to good health, mental peace, control of life energy and may be spritual also. They benefit every one. So every human being irrespective or his/her religion should do Pranayams daily. To read our pranayam Guide brought to you by Pranayam Guru.

Sitting Posture for doing Pranayams.

For doing Pranayams you can sit in any asan you find comfortable like 'Padmasan (lotus posture)', 'Sukhasan' or 'Sidhhasan'.
Pranayam sitting posture - Sukhasan

Let me explain one of these, 'sukhasan', here for you:-
1. Sit on yoga mat or blanket with legs stretched in front.
2. Fold your right leg at the knee and place it under the left thigh.
3. Then bend your left leg and place it under your right thigh.
4. Place your hands on the knees and close your eyes.
5. Keep your head and the spine erect.

Stages of breathing in yoga or Pranayam.

A breathing cycle is not simply inhalation or exhalation of breath. It has four stages as below:-
1. Purak or Inhalation :- a single smooth inhalation so as to fill your lungs with air.
2. Abhyantar Kumbhak a pause with retention of the breath in body, especially when done intentionally and prolonged.
3. Rechak or Exhalation :- a single smooth exhalation of breath in order to completely empty you lungs of air.
4. Bahya Kumbhak a pause with no air in body, especially when done intentionally and prolonged. Completion of this stage completes the breath cycle after which Purak starts atarts again.

What are various pranayams?

Though there are a lot ofpranayam, but pranayam guide by pranayam guru currently have 4 best and most commonly done pranayam. Pranayam guru will certaily update pranayam guide with more pranayams soon. So keep on visiting to find new pranayams. The pranayams that are currently included in pranayam guide are:-

Bhastrika Pranayam : Click to open Bhastrika pranayam guide.
KapalBhati pranayam : Click to open Kapalbhati pranayam guide.
Anulom vilom Pranayam : Click to open Anulom vilom pranayam guide.
Bhramari Pranayam : Click to open Bhramari pranayam guide.