There is no equivalent word for Prana in English. It is usually translated as breath. But that is incorrect according to my teachers at KYM. The concept explained here is from KYM and is originally from a book called Yoga Yajnavalkya Samhita. Breath is related to Prana, but it is not the whole component. In Yoga philosophy, breath is converted to Prana that can flow, when the body and mind are conditioned in a certain way.

Prana is created in the center of the body (hrdya) and it ideally stays within the body. Prana  does leak out of the body for various reasons.The idea of Prana in the body and that is leaking out is symbolic of the state of mind. (more…)

Sitali and Sitkari pranayama are one of the simplest ways to cool your body. When Kali went on a non-stop rampage, Shiva had to help her calm down. When Kali finally gave in, by standing on top of Shiva, her tongue is out and she is under control. Sitali and Sitkari are two techniques of pranayama which use the tongue to simply cool you down. (more…)

Breathing is an involuntary action for all humans and the animals. The human body is able to breathe on its own to take care of its functioning. That does not mean it works at its optimum. We may need to learn a thing or two from the animals. I read this passage in one of my favorite books, A Search In Secret India, by Paul Brunton.

This is the conversation between the author and a Yogi that he meets in Chennai. The Yogi says

an elephant breathes much more slowly than a monkey, yet it lives much longer. Some of the large serpents breathe far more slowly than a dog, yet they live longer. Thus creatures exist which show that slowness of breathing may possibly prolong age. These animals use their organs less, so the wear and tear is less which helps them to live longer.

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