ASHTANGA PRANAYAMA

ASHTANGA PRANAYAMA


I. TERMINOLOGY

ANTARA KUMBHAKA Suspension of breath after full inhalation
BAHYA KUMBHAKA Suspension of breath after full exhalation
BANDHA Bondage or fetter
BHASTRIKA Bellows
BEDHANA Bhid = to pierce, break through
CHANDRA Moon
JALA (As in jalandhara) Net, web, mesh
KUMBHAKA Retention of breath
MULA Root
PURUKA Inhalation
RECHAKA Exhalation
SITALI Sitala = cool
SURYA Sun
UDDIYANA Flying up

II. BANDHAS IN PRANAYAMA

Jalandhara Bandha: During Antara Kumbhaka (inhale retention)
Uddiyana Bandha: During Bahya Kumbhaka (exhale retention)
Mula Bandha: All of the time

III. TECHNIQUES OF PRANAYAMA

1) Rechaka Kumbhaka and Puruka Kumbhaka
2) Puruka Rechaka Kumbhaka
3) Nadi Shodhana

a. Sama Vrtti
b. Visama Vrtti

4) Bhastrika

5) Bhedana

a. Surya Bhedana
b. Chandra Bhedana

6) Sitali

IV. PRACTICE OF PRANAYAMA

TO BEGIN:
3 Ujjayi breaths (with ujjayi breathing, ratio of inhale to exhale is 1 : 1)
Inhale, with the exhale chant AUM

1) RECHAKA AND PURUKA KUMBHAKA

a. Rechaka Kumbhaka

Inhale, exhale then hold breath

Repeat for a total of three breaths

Then immediately begin Puruka Kumbhaka

b. Puruka Kumbhaka

Inhale, hold breath, then exhale

Repeat for a total of three breaths

c. The ratio of the length of the inhalation of breath to the exhalation of breath should be 1 : 1

d. Ratio of the length of the retentions for exhale (rechaka) vs inhale (puruka) is 2 : 3, for example, if the retention after the exhale lasts 6 seconds, the retention after the inhale should last 9 seconds

e. 3 Ujjayi breaths as a transition before next stage of pranayama



2) PURUKA RECHAKA KUMBHAKA

a. 3 breaths with retention after both the inhale and the exhale

b. Ratio of retentions for inhale (puruka) vs exhale (rechaka) should be 5 : 4. for example if the retention after the inhale lasts 10 seconds, the retention after the exhale should last 8 seconds

c. 3 Ujjayi breaths as a transition before next stage of pranayama



3) NADI SHODHANA

a. Sama Vrtti (same action)

1. inhale through both nostrils

2. exhale through left nostril, no retention

3. inhale right, hold 1st retention

4. exhale left, hold 2nd retention

5. inhale left, hold 3rd retention

6. exhale right, hold 4th retention

7. inhale right, hold 5th retention

8. exhale left, hold 6th retention

9. inhale left, hold 7th retention

10. exhale right, hold 8th retention

11. inhale right, hold 9th retention

12. exhale left, hold 10th retention

b. Visama Vrtti (irregular action)

13. inhale right, hold 11th retention

14. exhale right, hold 12th retention

15. inhale right, hold 13th retention

16. exhale right, hold 14th retention

17. inhale right, hold 15th retention

18. exhale right, hold 16th retention

19. inhale right, hold 17th retention

20. exhale left, hold 18th retention

21. inhale left, hold 19th retention

22. exhale left, hold 20th retention

23. inhale left, hold 21st retention

24. exhale left, hold 22nd retention

25. inhale left, hold 23rd retention

26. exhale left, hold 24th retention

27. inhale left, hold 25th retention

28. exhale right, hold 26th retention

29. inhale right, no retention

30. exhale left

c. Ratio of inhalations, exhalations and retentions is 1 : 1 : 1 : 1

d. 3 Ujjayi breaths as a transition before the next stage of pranayama

4) BHASTRIKA

a. In a seated position, hold the tops of the feet and pull them back into the abdomen

b. Slow inhalation

c. Perform a series of rapid, vigorous exhalations followed by reflexive inhalation through both nostrils (50 to 100 cycles)

d. Pull the lower abdomen back strongly during the exhalation, using both uddiyana bandha and mula bandha

e. With the last exhalation, fully empty the lungs

f. Slow inhalation

g. Long retention after inhalation, 20 – 40 seconds

h. Exhale

i. Repeat the inhale, vigorous exhale/reflexive inhale x 100, slow inhale, hold x 20 - 40 seconds, exhale sequence for a total of 3 cycles

j. 3 Ujjayi breaths as a transition before the next stage of pranayama


5) BHEDANA

a. Surya Bhedana

1. Inhale through both nostrils

2. Exhale left, no retention



3. Inhale right, long hold (retentions are for 30 – 60 seconds)

4. Exhale left

5. Inhale right, long hold

6. Exhale left

7. Inhale right, long hold

8. Exhale left

b. Chandra Bhedana

9. Inhale left, long hold

10. Exhale right

11. Inhale left, long hold

12. Exhale right

13. Inhale left, long hold

14. Exhale right

15. Inhale right, no retention

16. Exhale left

c. 3 Ujjayi breaths as a transition before next stage of pranayama

6) SITALI

a. Open the mouth and form the lips into an “O”

b. Curl the tongue and extend it slightly through the lips

c. Inhale through the tongue, short retention (3-6 seconds)

d. Exhale through both nostrils

e. Repeat for a total of three breaths

f. 3 Ujjayi breaths

7) FINISHING

Inhale

Begin chants during exhalation

YOGA CHANTS

Om Narayanam Padmabhuvam Vashistam Shaktim

Tatputra Parasharancha Vyasam Shukam

Gaudapadam Mahantam Govinda Yogaindram

Athasya Shishyam Shri Shankaracharyam

Athasya Padmapadancha Hastamalakancha

Shishyam Tantrotakam Vartekakara Mukyam

Asmat Gurun Santatamanatosmi

(I am always bowed to our teachers—Narayanam, the first teacher, Brahma the Lotus Born, Vashista and his son Shaktim, Vyasa and his son Parasharancha, Gaudapada the Great, Govinda, Lord of Yogis and his disciple Shri Shankaracharya, and his disciples Padmapadancha and Hastamalakancha, and the author Varteka Trotakam)

Vande Gurunam Charanaravinde

Sandarashita Swatma Sukhava Bhode

Nishreyase Jangalikaya Mane

Samsara Halahala Mohashantiye

Abahu Purushakaram

Shankachakra Asi Dharinam

Sahasra Shirasam Swetam

Pranamami Patanjalim OM

(I respectfully bow to the lotus feet of my teacher, who teaches the knowledge of the Self that awakens us to great happiness, who is the Jungle Physician and dispeller of the poison of conditioned existence. Taking the form of aman up to the hands, holding a conch, a discus and a sword, and having a thousand heads of white light, Pantanjali, I bow to you.)

Sahanavavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu Saha Viryam

Karava Vahai Tejas Vinau Adhitamastu

Ma Vidvisha Vaha-i-i

OM Shanti Shanti Shanti

(May wisdom protect and nourish us, let us work together for wisdom, may our study be illuminating, may we never be at discord)

OM Namo Brahmavidibhyo Brahmavidya Sampradaya Karatrobhyo Namo

Vomsharishaibhyo Namo Mahadibhyo Namo Gurubhyaha

Sarva Uplaplava Rahita Prajnanaghana Pratagarthaha

Brahma Iva Aham Asmi

OM Tat Sat

(Salutations to Brahma and the originators of His wisdom, salutations to the sage of our family lineage, salutations to the great teachers. I am Brahma only, perfect consciousness, devoid of al misfortune.)

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