The meaning of Pranayama
‘Pranayama’ literally means ‘to expend Prana’ (vital force). In the 49th Sutra of Sadhanapada of Patanjali Yogasutr, the great Rishi Patanjali has defined Pranayama as a process in which respiration is interrupted and Prana, that is, the vital force is controlled and regulated. According to some, Prana means air. But this is a more than air. Prana, in fact, is the vital power which is the force motivating every element of the earth and which the origin of the force is of though. There is a deep affinity between Prana and mental force, between mental force and intellect, between intellect and soul, and between soul and God. Thus the purpose of Pranayama is to inspire, motivate, regulate and balance the vital force (Prana) pervading in the body. This is the reason why Pranayama is considered one of the efficacious means of attaining Yoga.
‘Pranayama’ literally means ‘to expend Prana’ (vital force). In the 49th Sutra of Sadhanapada of Patanjali Yogasutr, the great Rishi Patanjali has defined Pranayama as a process in which respiration is interrupted and Prana, that is, the vital force is controlled and regulated. According to some, Prana means air. But this is a more than air. Prana, in fact, is the vital power which is the force motivating every element of the earth and which the origin of the force is of though. There is a deep affinity between Prana and mental force, between mental force and intellect, between intellect and soul, and between soul and God. Thus the purpose of Pranayama is to inspire, motivate, regulate and balance the vital force (Prana) pervading in the body. This is the reason why Pranayama is considered one of the efficacious means of attaining Yoga.