This can be attained by filling air into stomach by puraka and holding it for sufficient time. With the practice of this kumbhaka the sadhaka floats on water like a leaf of lotus flower. (Puraka and Rechaka through the nose)
Sheetkari Pranayama
Keep tongue behind the teeth and take the air in through the chinks of teeth, making a hissing sound and do rechaka (exhale) from both the nostrils. This Pranayama is especially beneficial for good physique, gracefulness, and good health. Hindrances like hunger, thirst, sleep and laziness are done away with.
Moorchha kumbhaka Pranayama
Breathe in and hold the breath comfortably, concentrate mind in bhrikuti (the center of the forehead). While giving up all thoughts, try to come to a stage like sleepiness. A person experiences an extreme joy with this Pranayama. It can be done as long as one enjoys it.
Bhramari kumbhaka Pranayama
At night when there is complete silence, do puraka, clsoe the ears, hold breath comfortably (kumbhaka) and hear the word or music (naad), which echoes within. Concentrate mind on that music, whatever words come up, try to concentrate in their rhythm whole-heartedly. The words of the music keep changing slowly. Sometimes music of a cricket, and sometimes that of a bumblebee, bell, drum, clouds etc is experienced. After a regular practice, the music can be heard by keeping the ears open also and the sadhaka’s mind remains in it by itself.
Bhastrika Pranayama
Sit in Padm Asana, breathe in and out for ten to fifteen times, in quick successions from both the nostrils like the bellows of a blacksmith, and take a long breath and hold it comfortably. Then exhale and do the same again. This way it should be done three times. This Pranayama awakens the Kundalini and cures diseases caused by cough, bile and air. This Pranayama can be fully attained by a disciple who has reached a divine stage and who is deekshit (initiated) by the Guru, or only with the blessings of a Yogi Guru.
Sheetaly Pranayama
Draw out the tongue from mouth and make it round like the beak of a bird, and slowly take in the air towards stomach considering it an elixir and exhale it from the right nostril or from both the nostrils. With this Pranayama one will never have the problems of cough, bile and constipation.
Ujjayi Pranayama
Breathe in from the nose, and pull the air from the heart and the throat and hold in the mouth (doing Uddiyan Bandha) together with Jalandhar Bandha as long as one can do it comfortably. Then exhale from both the nostrils. This Pranayama cures cough and phlegm related diseases.
Surya bhed kumbhaka Pranayama
Breathe in by solar nadi (the right nostril) and hold in the air while doing Jalandhar bandha (a mudra), according to one’s capacity. By holding the breath for a longer period, the whole body will sweat. Imagine all pranas and upp-pranas accumulate in the abdominal area (navel) then do rechaka from the left nostril (lunar nadi). Breathe in through the right nostril again and exhale from the left nostril. Practice this Pranayama in this way several times. This Pranayama cures the problems of cold, cough and improves digestion and awakens the Kundalini.
Nadi Shudhi Pranayama
It is for cleansing of the nadis of body, which is of the utmost importance in Hatha Yoga, because only after cleansing nadis the prana can enter the central way, which awakens the Kundalini. This Pranayama has three parts namely –
- Puraka (breathing in)
- Kumbhaka (holding in)
- Rechaka (exhaling)
First the Puraka: Close right nostril with the thumb of right hand and breathe in from the left nostril.
Kumbhaka: Hold the breathe taken in puraka comfortably by closing the left nostril as well with the help of right finger and small finger of the right hand.
Rechaka: After holding the breath, exhale slowly through right nostril by removing the thumb from left nostril.
Now repeat the process by changing the nostril i.e., breathe in from the right nostril (puraka) do kumbhaka by holding the breath comfortably and do rechaka by breathing out slowly through the left nostril. In this way, repeat puraka, kumbhaka and rechaka from both the nostrils turn by turn.
The duration of kumbhaka should be four times of the puraka and that of the rechaka should be twice the time taken in puraka, which means that if four seconds are taken to breathe in then hold for 16 seconds and exhale in eight seconds (1:4:2).
But it should be done comfortably; there should be no anxiety. It is harmful to hold the breath beyond ones capacity. In the beginning six kumbhakas three from each nostril are sufficient. The time of kumbhaka increases gradually with proper practice of Pranayama. With this the nadi chakra is cleaned and the prana vayu (air) enters the face of the Sushumna Nadi comfortably. When the prana vayu enters the Sushumna, the mind stabilizes and attains the deepest state of meditation, called samadhi (super conscious state of mind).
Pranayama
Pranayama is main constituent of Yoga. This should be practiced with the guidance of an experienced Yogi Guru. It has many benefits such as it prolongs life, begets activeness in the body, strengthens heart and brain, concentrates mind, enhances tolerance and working capacity, delights conscience, brings sweetness in speech, purifies blood, improves digestion, awakens the Kundalini, balances the cough, air, bile and relieves of many diseases.
The main types of Pranayama and the methods of doing these are given here in brief. It is advised to be practiced under the supervision of the Guru to derive its optimum benefits. Pranayama should be practiced in a clean and calm environment. One should make a simple seat of a blanket, a small cushion or any clean and comfortable seat. Sit on it in one of the postures of Padam asana or Siddh asana, keeping the back upright, facing North or East and practice it.
There are 10 types of Pranayama which are explained here :-