Pranayama is the science of breath control used in yoga. There are four stages to breathing control, which include Puraka, Abhyantara Kumbhaka, Rechaka and Kumbhaka. Awareness of each stage and how it is properly performed allows your body to achieve prime oxygenation, which is necessary for optimal health.
Breathing and Yoga
Yogawiz.com describes yoga as encompassing five principles and Pranayama is the principle that promotes proper breathing. Yoga teaches that proper breathing occurs when maximum oxygen reaches the blood and brain. Pranayama contains a series of exercises intended to keep your body in vibrant health and each breath cycle is thought of as a single inhale, followed by a single exhale. Breath is broken into four stages that each have a Sanskrit name. Changing from inhaling to exhaling and from exhaling to inhaling involves reversal in the direction of the muscle movements. Expansion and contraction movements of your lungs, thorax and abdomen occur during breathing. These reversals can occur in short time durations, as when panting, or long time durations, which happens when you hold your breath.
Stage One
The first stage of breathing control is referred to as Puraka. This phase of breathing involves a single inhalation and is involuntary. Puraka occurs we draw air into our lungs through our nostrils in a continuous and smooth manner. A broken Puraka occurs if there is one or more pauses during a single inhalation.
Stage Two
According to ABC-of-yoga.com, deliberately stopping the flow of air and keeping air in the lungs is the second stage of breathing, which is called Abhyantara Kumbhaka. This second stage of breathing is accomplished without moving any part of your body, including your lungs and muscles. Detailed instructions exist to assist you in this stage of breathing, but when you are beginning, use some force to resist breathing and hold your breath.
Stage Three
Rechaka is the third stage of breathing control, which is accomplished when you exhale in an unbroken and even manner. Muscular energy is used to inhale and exhaling generally involves relaxing tensed muscles. You may use your muscles to force air out with muscular effort under constant control. When you consciously strive to smooth your breathing and hold the cycle in regular or irregular patterns, muscular energy will be used.
Stage Four
The pause after exhaling is the fourth stage of breathing and is called Kumbhaka. This pause is the last stage of the breathing cycle and is followed by a new inhalation.
