THREE COMPONENTS OF PRANAYAMA :
Pranayama is the process of bringing together Prana and Apana through the process of puraka (inhalation), kumbhaka (retention) and rechaka(exhalation). Kumbhaka refers to the retention or holding of the breath as it involves intentionally pausing the breath after either the inhalation (Antara Kum bhaka) or the exhalation (Bahya Kum bhaka).
Antara Kumbhaka (Internal Breath Retention): This occurs after a complete inhalation. It helps to focus the mind and can be used to direct prana (life force energy) to different parts of the body.
Bahya Kumbhaka (External Breath Retention): This occurs after a complete exhalation. Bahya Kumbhaka is thought to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. It can also help increase awareness of the internal state.Asta Kumbhakas which trans lates to eight kumbhakas, have been enumerated in the Hatha Yogic texts like HathaYoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita. Hatha Yoga Pradipika explains the eight kumbhakas as: Suryabhedana, Ujjayi, Sitkari, Sitali, Bhastrika, Brah mari, Murcha & Plavini. Whereas Gheranda Samhita, recognizes the Asta Kumbhakas with a slight difference, such as Sahita (Sagarbha and Nigarbha), Suryabhedana, Ujjayi, Sitali, Bhastrika, Bhramari, Murcha & Kevali.
Broadly, the practice of Pranayama can be divided in to two ways. Oneway is to merely focus on the breath ing activity, the inhalation and exhala tion and slowing the breathing cycle. This represents the gross level practice and most of the practitioners remain confined to this gross aspect of Pranaya ma itself. But with proper guidance from an eminent master, the same practice can be taken into a subtler aspect, by learn ing to be aware of the Pranic activity going on within the body. However to reach a state of mastery towards this subtler aspect, the gross level practice is of utmost importance as well.
One such subtler practice is known as Sahita Kumbhaka, which is divided into Sagarbha & Nigarbha Pranayama.
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