Pranayama is an ancient breath technique that originates from yogic practices in India. It involves controlling your breath in different styles and lengths, and it has more recently gained popularity in the West. The word pranayama comes from two separate words: prana, which translates to breath, and ayama, which has many different meanings including expansion, length, and rising. In yogic beliefs, it is thought that you can control your inner force, also known as prana, through a pranayama practice. Pranayama is described in Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Pranayama involves different breathing techniques, such as alternate nostril breathing (nadishodhana) and bee breath (bhramari). A pranayama cycle has three phases: inhalation, retention, and exhalation. Pranayama techniques have different effects, much like different yoga poses do. Most kinds of pranayama are practiced sitting down with an upright spine, such as in Cross-legged Pose, Hero’s Pose, or Lotus Pose.

Practicing pranayama has many benefits for physical and emotional health. It can increase mindfulness, improve lung function, lower blood pressure, and support brain function. A regular pranayama practice can stimulate the parasympathetic system, countering the overstimulation our bodies go through during the Fight or Flight response. Pranayama is also believed to help detoxify the body.

If you are new to pranayama, it is recommended to join a yoga class or find a teacher who can teach you the proper techniques. Pranayama with fast rhythms or breath retention should not be practiced if you have asthma, heart disease, hypertension, or are pregnant.