by Bodhi Yoga Program Director Kristen Butler

I recently read that living yoga master, B.K.S. Iyengar, begins his day with a bath, a drink of milky coffee with sugar and an hour’s practice of pranayama, the yogic art of breath control to release energy throughout the body.

The combination must be working for him! Iyengar is 91 years old and has followed the yogic path for over 70 years.

He says, “The yogi’s life is not measured by the number of his days but by the number of his breaths.”

I’ll take his word for it. After all, humans can survive for three days without water and nearly six weeks without food, but only moments without a breath of oxygen.

So how does one begin to comprehend pranayama – a topic and science that is literally as vast as the air we breathe?

First, let’s understand the term and its goal.

Prana is usually translated as breath (although it is also often referred to as the energizing force within the breath), and ayama means regulation of the breath.

Pranayama includes a process of controlled, extended inhalations and exhalations, as well as retention of the breath. Inhalations and retentions distribute prana or energy throughout the body. Exhalations release toxins from the system.

The practice of pranayama seeks to quiet the mind by bringing it under control through smooth, deep and rhythmic breaths. Through pranayamic breathing, the brain becomes calm, and the body’s blood stream is saturated with oxygen. This allows the nervous system and every organ to function more effectively.

Sounds simple? It isn’t. The art of pranayama can take a lifetime to master as it reaches beyond the physiological level to spiritual dimensions, where, according to yogic texts, our consciousness opens into its natural and pure state.

However, there is hope! A regular yoga asana practice can help remove obstacles that impede the flow of prana.

You can make a beginning by approaching your pranayama practice during class with these simple steps:

1. Give up the struggle. In pranayama, the breath is drawn in and released gently and gradually. There are no sudden movements.
2. Don’t stress. Keep your body and facial muscles relaxed. Eventually, you will become aware of the smooth and stable flow of the breath to the most remote parts of the lungs.
3. Count. Try breathing in to a count of five and out to a count of five with a slight pause between inhalations and exhalations.
4. Go with the flow. Remember that during asana practice, you will typically perform an upward motion (expansion) while inhaling and a downward motion (contraction) while exhaling. Follow your body’s cues.
5. Snore. A little snoring sound and sensation can help regulate the breath. Don’t be shy! Try partially closing the glottis in the back of the throat to create this effect.

Here’s to you and a long life filled with many happy breaths!