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Category: Pranayama

41 Articles

Devotional India Team 5647 Posts

July 8, 2025

Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers Q. Is it right to say that Pranayama is unnecessary in the practice of Raja Yoga? A....

Swami Sivananda joyfully blessing devoted young disciple

Dharana (Concentration)

Dharana (Concentration) CONCENTRATION ON SOLAR PLEXUS Solar plexus is often called the abdominal brain. It is an important centre of...

Swami Sivananda holding young child lovingly

Pranic Healing

Pranic Healing Those who practise Pranayama, can impart their Prana in healing morbid diseases. They can also recharge themselves with...

Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda beside the sacred Ganges

Importance and Benefits of Pranayama

Importance and Benefits of Pranayama “The illusory Samsaric Vasana, that has arisen through the practice of many lives, never perishes...

Swami Sivananda seated in meditation beneath a tree, radiating peace, wisdom, and spiritual serenity

Relaxation

Relaxation The practice of relaxing the muscles of the body will bring rest to the body and to the mind...

Swami Sivananda seated peacefully beside sacred riverbank meditating

Sivananda’s Pranayama

Sivananda’s Pranayama Technique: Sit comfortably on a chair, sofa or easy-chair. Draw the air through both nostrils, as long as...

Swami Sivananda the benevolent spiritual master inspiring seekers with compassion

Kevala Kumbhaka

Kevala Kumbhaka Kumbhaka is of two kinds, viz., Sahita and Kevala. That which is coupled with inhalation and exhalation is...

Swami Sivananda addressing devotees with compassion

Plavini

Plavini Practice of this Pranayama demands skill on the part of the student. He who practises this Plavini can do...

Swami Sivananda with devotees and disciples at a spiritual gathering

Murchha

Murchha Sit in your Asana and inhale. Retain the breath. Do Jalandhara Bandha by pressing the chin against the chest....

Swami Sivananda with devotee smiling together image

Bhramari

Bhramari Sit on Padmasana or Siddhasana. Inhale rapidly through both nostrils making sound of Bhramara, the bee, and exhale rapidly...

Swami Sivananda with disciple during spiritual guidance and meditation

Bhastrika

Bhastrika In Sanskrit Bhastrika means ‘bellows’. Rapid succession of forcible expulsion is a characteristic feature of Bhastrika. Just as a...

Swami Sivananda inspiring love service meditation

Sitali

Sitali Protrude the tongue a little away from the lips. Fold the tongue like a tube. Draw in the air...

Swami Hridayananda Mataji receiving blessings from Sri Gurudev

Sitkari

Sitkari Fold the tongue so that the tip of the tongue might touch the upper palate and draw the air...

Swami Sivananda wearing flower garland gazing thoughtfully with serene expression always

Ujjayi

Ujjayi Sit in Padmasana or Siddhasana. Close the mouth. Inhale slowly through both the nostrils in a smooth, uniform manner...

Portrait of Jain Acharya Parshvanatha with sacred robes and serene spiritual expression

Surya Bheda

Surya Bheda Sit on Padmasana or Siddhasana. Close the eyes. Keep the left nostril closed with your right ring and...

Concentration and Meditation book cover by Swami Sivananda

Rhythmical Breathing

Rhythmical Breathing The breathing in men and women is very irregular. In exhalation the Prana goes out 16 digits and...

Portrait of Swami Sivananda disciple in saffron robes with peaceful expression outdoors

Pranayama in Savasana

Pranayama in Savasana Lie down on the back, quiet at ease, over a blanket. Keep the hands on the ground...

Pranayama While Walking

Pranayama While Walking Walk with head up, shoulders back and with chest expanded. Inhale slowly through both nostrils counting OM...

Pranayama During Meditation

Pranayama During Meditation If you do concentration and meditation, Pranayama comes by itself. The breath becomes slower and slower. You...

Kundalini Pranayama

Kundalini Pranayama In this Pranayama, the Bhavana is more important than the ratio between Puraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka. Sit in...

Swami Sivananda compassionately serving a patient with selfless love and healing

Easy Comfortable Pranayama

Easy Comfortable Pranayama (Sukha Purvaka) Sit on Padmasana or Siddhasana in your meditation room, before the picture of your Ishta...

Swami Sivananda offering blessings with raised hand

The external Kumbhaka (Bahya)

The external Kumbhaka (Bahya) Draw the air through the left nostril till you count 3 OMs; throw it out through...

Hindu monk delivering a spiritual discourse before a portrait of Swami Sivananda

Kapalabhati

Kapalabhati ‘Kapala’ is a Sanskrit word; it means skull. ‘Bhati’ means to shine. The term ‘Kapalabhati’ means an exercise that...

Sravana spiritual teacher delivering inspiring discourse before revered guru portraits together

Pranayama Exercises

Pranayama Exercises EXERCISE NO. 1 Sit on Padmasana. Close your eyes. Concentrate on Trikuti (the space between the two eyebrows)....

Swami Sivananda with Reverend Ralph Richard Kaithahn and daughter during spiritual meeting

Three Types of Pranayama

Three Types of Pranayama There are three types of Pranayama, viz., Adhama, Madhyama and Uttama (inferior, middle and superior). The...

Varieties of Pranayama

Varieties of Pranayama “Bahya-abhyantara-stambha-vrittih-desa–kaala- sankhyabhih paridrishto deergha-sukshmah.” Yoga Sutras-Ch. II-50 Pranayama is regarded lengthy or subtle according to its three...

Spiritual teacher guiding students through Vedanta wisdom beside peaceful riverside together

Control of Breath

Control of Breath The first important step is to master the Asana of posture or to control the body. The...

Swami Sivananda and Swami Chidananda spiritual portraits

What is Pranayama?

What is Pranayama? Tasmin sati svasaprasvasayor-gativicchedah pranayamah -“Regulation of breath or the control of Prana is the stoppage of inhalation...

Atma Nivedana spiritual guru portrait collage inspiring devotion and surrender together

Matra

Matra The time taken in making a round of the palm of the hand, neither very slow nor very quickly...

Swami Sivananda portrait with floral frame symbolizing divine love

Avasthas (Stages)

Avasthas (Stages) ARAMBHA AVASTHA Pranava (OM) should be chanted with three Matras (prolonged intonations). This is for the destruction of...

Swami Sivananda writing spiritual teachings at his desk surrounded by sacred books

Three Bandhas

Three Bandhas There are four Bhedas (piercing of divisions) viz., Surya, Ujjayi, Sitali and Basti. Through these four ways, when...

Swami Sivananda teaching disciples during outdoor spiritual study session

Asanas for Pranayama

Asanas for Pranayama PADMASANA (LOTUS POSE) This is also known by the name Kamalasana. Kamala means lotus. When the Asana...

Swami Sivananda radiating divine light and universal goodness

Dietetic Discipline

Dietetic Discipline The proficient in Yoga should abandon articles of food detrimental to the practice of Yoga. He should give...

The Meditation Room

The Meditation Room Have a separate meditation room under lock and key. Never allow anyone to enter the room. Keep...

Swami Sivananda teaching yoga of equanimity peacefully

he five Essentials

He five Essentials Five things are necessary for practising Pranayama. First a good place; second, a suitable time; third, moderate,...

Swami Sivananda explaining law of causation

Kundalini & Chakras

Kundalini & Chakras KUNDALINI Kundalini is the serpent power or sleeping Sakti, that has 3 coils with face downwards, in...

Swami Sivananda Saraswati seated in meditation with radiant spiritual aura

Nadis

Nadis Nadis are astral tubes made up of astral matter that carry Pranic currents. They can be seen by the...

Swami Sivananda beside river sharing timeless spiritual wisdom

The Lungs

The Lungs It will not be out of place here to mention a word on lungs and their functions. The...

Swami Sivananda studying sacred scriptures surrounded by books and spiritual literature

Prana and Pranayama

Prana and Pranayama Pranayama is an exact science. It is the fourth Anga or limb of Ashtanga Yoga. “Tasmin Sati...

What is Prana?

What is Prana? “He who knows Prana knows Vedas” is the important declaration of the Srutis. You will find in...

Pranayama

Pranayama Today, for quick travel, the material world presents us the Railway, Steamers, Aeroplanes and so forth, but the Yogins...

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