Pranayama, the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga, is the practice of breath control. In Patanjali’s system, it is not merely a breathing exercise but a method of refining life energy (prana) to bring balance between the body and mind. The Yoga Sutras describe Pranayama as a way to extend and regulate the breath, leading to a calmer nervous system and a clearer state of awareness.
Breath is the meeting point of the physical and mental realms. When unconscious, it follows the fluctuations of the mind—shallow in moments of anxiety, rapid in times of stress. But when trained through Pranayama, it becomes an anchor, stabilizing emotions and sharpening focus. This practice prepares the yogi for deeper meditation, dissolving the distractions of the outer world and awakening sensitivity to the subtler dimensions of being. In this way, Pranayama serves as a bridge, guiding the practitioner from the external to the internal, from movement to stillness, and from fragmentation to unity.
