Pranayama, also known as yogic breathing is the method of silencing the breath. Prana has been defined as the air which flows through the body. Pranayama is made up of three parts: controlled inhalations, controlled exhalations and holding of the breath. When you do all three parts, it is called sahita, while doing only the holding breath without the other two is called kevala. You should start with sahita till kevala comes into being. This is a technique that controls all that is associated with prana.

Our breathing is made of two acts of inhalations and exhalations. These acts are followed in cycles where inhalations and exhalations succeed each other, where you take in air into the lungs and then release some of it back from the lungs. In between the inhalation and exhalation, there is a short gap which usually escapes our attention. This act is called respiration and is usually completed in four seconds in the resting phase. We usually respire nearly fifteen times a minute. You can take in about 400 cubic centimeters or 0.4 liters in a minute. When you do deep inhalations, you take in additional 1.6 liters of air and 2 liters in all. At the time of deep exhalations, you throw out all these 2 liters of air but still your lungs contain another 1.5 to 2 liters of air.

Thus, the total lung capacity of the human body for a normal individual is about 5 liters. The amount of air that you can exhale through deep exhalation after a deep inhalation is called as Vital Capacity. Dividing this number by the weight of the body gives you the Vital Index, which shows the capacity to breathe as well as the vitality of the body and its efficiency in the body’s functions. Regular practice of yogic breathing has been shown to increase yogic breathing. This raises the vitality of the body and efficiency of the bodily functions.

(46) Marlon Braccia: Intermediate Yoga with Shalabasana and Viloma Pranayama [VHS] $19.95 # 46 Intermediate Level with Shalabasana and Viloma Pranayama Viloma pranayama can create a sense of managability in life. By segmenting the breathe into parts, you can create the mental patterning that teaches us how to deal with life, one piece at a time, as opposed to in overwhelm. Additionally this video features a strong back sequence. This video stands alone for expereinced practitione...

The Healing Science of Yoga for Menopause Detailed instructions and demonstration of Yoga practices intended to strengthen the physiology, promote hormonal balance; and help ease the transition process of body and mind. Order of presentation: basic stretches and loosening exercise, followed by postures (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), energy locks (bandha), psychic gestures (mudra), relaxation and meditation, and self massage. P...

Pranayama (Yogic Breathing) Vasanthi Bhat demonstrates different breathing exercises. These exercises help balance mental and physical energy, improve concentration, and are especially effective in curing headaches, insomnia, hypertension, and lung ailments like allergy and asthma. Pranayama exercises are excellent for stress relief. They also help to achieve a state of meditation. Running time approximately 35 minutes....

Spinal Breathing Pranayama-Journey to Inner Space $13.69 ...

Pranayama: The Kripalu Approach to Yogic Breathing: Intermediate Level Practice $14.03 A guided experience on CD for the intermediate level yoga student with some familiarity with the basic pranayamas: Ujjayi (Ocean Sounding breath), Dirgha (3-part breath) and Kapalabhati. Tracks 1-8 lead you in a 43 minute pranayama experience suitable fro daily practice. Each pranayama in this experience is on a separate track, and you may skip tracks to create a shorter practice session. The CD e...

Light on Pranayama the Yogic Art of Breathing $13.43 One of the world's most beloved yogis, B.K.S Iyengar, writes a follow-up to his seminal doctrine LIGHT ON YOGA. Many consider LIGHT ON PRANAYAMA a required supplement to the earlier work as it explores and illuminates the breath, essential to the ...

The Practice of Pranayama (Compact Disc) $37.39 For thousands of years yoga practitioners have tapped into the power of pranayama, a technique for controlling the breath in order to maximize prana (life energy), to rejuvenate the body and mind, and to bring about spiritual transformati...

Light on Yoga by B. K. S. Iyengar (Paperback) $12.76 A well known yogi Iyengar shares his philosophy of yoga and clarifies how to practice asanas, pranayama, and bandhas

The Woman`s Yoga Book $18.77 Description not available.

The Yoga of Breath $12.76 Description not available.