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.)