What is pranayama or yogic breathing techniques?
Prana means life force and ayama means control or master. Pranayama, therefore, means mastering the life force. One of the major ways that we receive prana is through the air and thus through breathing. Pranayama is the yogic system of breathing that trains the practitioner to control the flow of prana in the body through the practice of breathing techniques. All pranayama is best done on an empty stomach first thing in the morning or one to two hours after a meal. Types of Yogic Breathing All yogic breathing is done through the nostrils, both inhalation and exhalation.
