Pranayama (Hinduism, Yoga)

One of the two principal steps of [hatha yoga]

, the other being [asana]

, [pranayama]

literally means control of breath. However, the breath referred to here is the five vital forces, or prana, which maintain the activity of the physical body. These breaths are: (i) [prana]

- the pure, essential breath of life; (ii) [vyana]

- the circulation; (iii) [samana]

- maintaining the balance of the metabolism through intake and utilization of food; (iv) [apana]

- in the elimination of waste from the lower part of the body; (v) [udana]

- uniting the physical with the spiritual and thus enhancing spiritual development. The aim is to master the vital forces, and to release the latent Kundalini energy. When this energy is able to flow, the individual starts on the path of reintegration with the ultimate ground of existence. Some sources equate [prana]

(sun breath) with the inhaled breath, bringing vital energy into the body; and [apana]

(moon breath) through which contaminated breath or energy leaves the body. The fusion of these two and the awakening of [kundalini]

are therefore very similar to the nurture of [ki]

or [ch'i]

energy in Taoist alchemy.

The practice of regulation of pranayama leads to an inner harmony, with one pointed attention and a dwindling of the five defects which cause all negative mental activity: passion or rage (raga); delusion (moha); attachment (sneha); desire (kama); and anger (krodha).

The fourth component of the eightfold path of yoga.