Pranayama
Prayanama is the practice of breath control. In modern
yoga as exercise, it consists of synchronising the breath with movements between asanas, but is additionally a definite breathing exercise on its own, usually practised after asanas. In texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and later in Hatha
yoga texts, it meant the complete cessation of breathing. A Cochrane systematic review on the symptomatic relief of mild to moderate
asthma by breathing exercises said there was limited evidence they might bring about improvement in quality of life, hyperventilation symptoms, and
lung function. "Prana" is Breath or vital energy within the body. On subtle levels prana represents the pranic energy liable for life or vital force, and "ayama" means control. So
Pranayama is "Control of Breath".
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