PRANAYAMA IN THREE STAGES
Pranayama has been practiced from time immemorial for keeping the body
and mind healthier.
The one that I am covering is one which is popular in Gayatri japa.
It involves three stages: Exhaling, Inhaling and Holding of
the breath.
Choose a place of calm and clean atmosphere to do pranayama. Prepare yourself to be clean.
The sitting posture can be in any asanas.
I.
First exhale through the right nostril by closing the left nostril by the
index finger. This is known as rEchaka. Secondly inhale through left nostril by
closing the right nostril by thumb finger.
This is known as PUraka. Lastly by closing the nose by index and thumb
fingers hold the breath. This is known
as kuMbaka.
This is nothing but breathing exercise developed by our ancestors. Repeat this for about 10 times. Gradually increase the repetitions.
II.
The breathing technique is based on the number of letters (maatraakaara) in
the mantra. The breathing pattern is in the form of 1:2:4. For instance if there are 6 letters in a mantra,
exhale 6 letters of the mantra through
right nostril and inhale 6 letters of the mantra twice through left nostril and
by holding the nose, control breathing by repeating 6 letters of the mantra 4
times i.e. 6:12:24 Gradually the mantras with
a greater number of letters could be selected.
III.
The ideal proportion is 16:32:64.
Based on “Tantrasaara” lesson by Dr. V. Prabhanjanacharya.