By Atul Vyas
Before entering into the deep, the most powerful and effective science of pranayama, it is important to understand the technical terms often used in pranayama.
In my last column, I had mentioned the key five pranas. Now, I will enumerate the other five UPA (subsidiary) pranas.
The main five pranas exist in the pranic body and manifest themselves as many physiological functions in our physical body. The UPA pranas are supporting subsidiaries of Pranas, which are as follow: Naga: Which causes belching; Kurma: Which controls eyelids movement; Karkala: Which controls sneezing and cough reflexes; Devdutta: This controls yawning; and Dhananjaya: It produces phlegm and nourishes.
Now, I will mention technical terms used in pranayama.
Nadi: It is a subtle channel through which energy/prana flows.
Ida: It is also an energy channel represented by the left nostril which cools the system and is called the moon channel or nadi also.
Pingla: It is an energy channel represented by the right nostril. It produces heat in the body such as the sun channel or nadi.
Sushmana: This is the central channel which is a neutral channel and kundalini is said to rise through this channel.
Some other terms are:
Purak: Which means process of inspiration or inhalation.
Rechak: The Process of Expiration or exhalation is called rechak.
Kumbhak: It means retention of breath. It is of two types — Antarik kumbhak which is the retention of breath internally after inhalation is called Antarik kumbhak and Bahya Kumbhaka — an external retention of breath after exhalation.
Anulom pranayama/breathing: When one breathes in and out from the same nostril is called anulom pranayama.
Anulom-Vilom pranayama: When one breathes alternatively from both nostrils is called Anulom Vilom pranayama.
Stambh Vritti pranayama: When breathing is stopped instantly on as is where its basis is called stambh vritti pranayama.
Vidyaran: It is a condition in which breath is held or retained inside with effort.
Shwas-prashwas: It is the process of breathing in and out rhythmically. Inspiration is called shwas while exhalation is called prashwas.
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(Atul Vyas likes to be called a “Yoga Scientist”. He is a celebrity yoga trainer and has trained several top Hollywood and Bollywood stars. He has trained for years under many eminent yoga gurus including his illustrious mother Daya Vyas, the first lady yoga guru of India)
