A man practicing Pryma

Dr.chirag patel teaching BahayaPryma

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pryma (Sanskrit: pryma) is a Sanskrit word meaning"extension of the pra or breath" or more accurately, "extension of thelife force". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Pra, lifeforce, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "ayma", to extend ordraw out. (Not 'restrain, or control' as is often incorrectly translated from'yama' instead of 'ayma').

1 Etymology1.1 Hatha and Raja Yoga Varieties1.2 Bhagavad Gt1.3 Quotes

2 Yoga Sutras of Patanjali3 Medical4 Cautions5 See also6 Notes7 References

Pryma (Devanagari: , pryma) is a Sanskritcompound.

V. S. Apte provides fourteen different meanings for the word pra(Devanagari: , pra) including these:[1]

Breath, respirationThe breath of life, vital air, principle of life (usually plural in this sense, there being five such vital airsgenerally assumed, but three, six, seven, nine, and even ten are also spoken of)[2]Energy, vigorThe spirit or soul

Of these meanings, the concept of "vital air" is used by Bhattacharyya to describe the concept as used inSanskrit texts dealing with pranayama.[3] Thomas McEvilley translates "prana" as "spirit-energy".[4] Its mostsubtle material form is the breath, but is also to be found in blood, and its most concentrated form is semen inmen and vaginal fluid in women.[5]

Monier-Williams defines the compound pryma as (m., also pl.) "N. of the three 'breath-exercises'performed during Sadhy (See praka, recaka, kumbhaka"[6] This technical definition refers to a particularsystem of breath control with three processes as explained by Bhattacharyya: praka (to take the breath inside),

Pranayama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama

1 of 5 9/24/2012 4:36 PM

AdministratorTypewritten Texthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama

kumbhaka (to retain it), and recaka (to discharge it).[7] There are also other processes of pranayama in additionto this three-step model.[7]

Macdonell gives the etymology as pra + yma and defines it as "m. suspension of breath (sts. pl.)".[8]Apte's definition of yma derives it from + ym and provides several variant meanings for it when used incompounds. The first three meanings have to do with "length", "expansion, extension", and "stretching,extending", but in the specific case of use in the compound pryma he defines yma as meaning "restrain,control, stopping".[9]

An alternative etymology for the compound is cited by Ramamurti Mishra, who says that:

Expansion of individual energy into cosmic energy is called pryma (pra, energy + aym,expansion).

[10]

Alternate nostril breathing (ANB) Pranyama also called Nadisuddhi pranyama is one of the beneficialPranayama for cardiopulmonary functions. Regular practice of ANB (Nadisudhi) increases parasympatheticactivity and lowers systolic blood pressure and Respiratory rate too.[11]

Hatha and Raja Yoga Varieties

Some scholars distinguish between hatha and rja yoga varieties of pryma, with the former variety usuallyprescribed for the beginner. According to Taimni, hatha yogic pranayama involves manipulation of praniccurrents through breath regulation for bringing about the control of chitta-vrittis and changes in consciousness,whereas raja yogic pranayama involves the control of chitta-vrittis by consciousness directly through the will ofthe mind.[12] Students qualified to practice pranayama are therefore always initiated first in the techniques ofhatha pranayama.[13]

Bhagavad GtPryma is mentioned in verse 4.29 of the Bhagavad Gt.[14]According to Bhagavad-Gt As It Is, "pryma" is translated to "trance induced by stopping all breathing",also being made from the two separate Sanskrit words, "pra" and "yma".[15] AlsoQuotes

Prana is a subtle invisible force. It is the life-force that pervades the body. It is the factor thatconnects the body and the mind, because it is connected on one side with the body and on theother side with the mind. It is the connecting link between the body and the mind. The bodyand the mind have no direct connection. They are connected through Prana only.

Swami Chidananda Saraswati[16]

Pranayama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama

2 of 5 9/24/2012 4:36 PM

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali[18]

Pada (Chapter) English meaning Sutras

Samadhi Pada On being absorbed in spirit 51

Sadhana Pada On being immersed in spirit 55

Vibhuti Pada On supernatural abilities and gifts 56

Kaivalya Pada On absolute freedom 34

Yoga primarily works with the energy in the body through the science of pranayama or energy-control. Prana also means breath. Yoga teaches how to still the mind through breath-controland attain higher states of awareness. The higher teachings of yoga take one beyond techniquesand show the yogi or yoga practitioner how to direct his concentration in such a way as notonly to harmonize human with divine consciousness, but to merge his consciousness in theInfinite.

Paramahansa Yogananda[17]

Pranayama is the fourth 'limb' of the eight limbs ofAshtanga Yoga mentioned in verse 2.29 in the Yoga Sutrasof Patanjali.[19][20] Patanjali discusses his specificapproach to pranayama in verses 2.49 through 2.51, anddevotes verses 2.52 and 2.53 to explaining the benefits ofthe practice.[21] Patanjali does not fully elucidate thenature of prana, and the theory and practice of pranayamaseem to have undergone significant development afterhim.[22] He presents pranayama as essentially an exercisethat is preliminary to concentration, as do the earlier Buddhist texts.[22]

Many yoga teachers advise that pranayama should be part of an overall practice that includes the other limbs ofPatanjali's Raja Yoga teachings, especially Yama, Niyama, and Asana.[23]

Several researchers have reported that pranayama techniques are beneficial in treating a range of stress-relateddisorders,[24] improving autonomic functions,[25] relieving symptoms of asthma[26] (though a different study didnot find any improvement[27]) and reducing signs of oxidative stress.[28][29] Practitioners report that thepractice of pranayama develops a steady mind, strong will-power, and sound judgement,[23] and also claim thatsustained pranayama practice extends life and enhances perception.[30]

Many yoga teachers recommend that Pryma techniques be practiced with care, and that advancedpryma techniques should be practiced under the guidance of a teacher. For example, people with high bloodpressure must perform it cautiously or may even have to avoid it. These cautions are also made in traditionalHindu literature. Pregnant women may have to forgo pranayama.[31][32][33]

Anuloma pranayama

Pranayama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama

3 of 5 9/24/2012 4:36 PM

BhastrikaHatha yogaKapalabhatiRaja yogaSwami RamdevUjjayi breath

^ Apte, p. 679.1.^ For the vital airs as generally assumed to be five,with other numbers given, see: Macdonell, p. 185.

2.

^ Bhattacharyya, p. 311.3.^ McEvilley, Thomas. "The Spinal Serpent", in:Harper and Brown, p. 94.

4.

^ Richard King, Indian philosophy: an introductionto Hindu and Buddhist thought. EdinburghUniversity Press, 1999, p. 70.

5.

^ Monier-Williams, p. 706, left column.(http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0700/mw__0739.html)

6.

^ a b Bhattacharyya, p. 429.7.^ Macdonell, p.185, main entry prghta8.^ See main article (yma) in: Apte, p.224. Passages cited by Apte for this usage areBhagavatgita 4.29 and Manusmriti 2.83.

9.

^ Mishra, p. 216.10.^ Upadhyay Dhungel K, Malhotra V, Sarkar D,Prajapati R (March 2008). "Effect of alternate nostrilbreathing exercise on cardiorespiratory functions".Nepal Med Coll J 10 (1): 257. PMID 18700626(//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18700626) .

11.

^ Taimni, p. 258.12.^ Iyengar, p. 244 Iyengar, B. K. Sundara Raja(1995). Light on Yoga. ISBN 0-8052-1031-8

13.

^ Gambhirananda, pp. 217218.14.^ Bhagavad-gita As It Is Chapter 4 Verse 29(http://vedabase.net/bg/4/29/) . Vedabase.net.Retrieved on 2011-02-25.

15.

^ Chidananda, Sri Swami, The Philosophy,Psychology, and Practice of Yoga, Divine LifeSociety, 1984

16.

^ Yogananda, Paramhansa, The Essence ofSelf-Realization, ISBN 0-916124-29-0

17.

^ Stiles 2001, p. x.18.^ Taimni, p. 205.19.^ Flood (1996), p. 97.20.^ Taimni, pp. 258268.21.^ a b G. C. Pande, Foundations of Indian Culture:Spiritual Vision and Symbolic Forms in AncientIndia. Second edition published by MotilalBanarsidass Publ., 1990, p. 97.

22.

^ a b Light on Pranayama, Sixth Edition, Crossroad23.

Publishing Co.^ Brown RP, Gerbarg PL (2005). "Sudarshan KriyaYogic breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety,and depression. Part IIclinical applications andguidelines". J Altern Complement Med 11 (4):7117. doi:10.1089/acm.2005.11.711(http://dx.doi.org/10.1089%2Facm.2005.11.711) .PMID 16131297 (//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16131297) .

24.

^ Pal GK, Velkumary S, Madanmohan (2004)."Effect of short-term practice of breathing exerciseson autonomic functions in normal human volunteers"(http://www.icmr.nic.in/ijmr/2004/0807.pdf) . IndianJ. Med. Res. 120 (2): 11521. PMID 15347862(//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15347862) .http://www.icmr.nic.in/ijmr/2004/0807.pdf.

25.

^ Vedanthan PK, Kesavalu LN, Murthy KC, et al.(1998). "Clinical study of yoga techniques inuniversity students with asthma: a controlled study".Allergy Asthma Proc 19 (1): 39.doi:10.2500/108854198778557971 (http://dx.doi.org/10.2500%2F108854198778557971) .PMID 9532318 (//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9532318) .

26.

^ Cooper S, Oborne J, Newton S, et al. (2003)."Effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko andpranayama) in asthma: a randomised controlled trial"(//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1746772/). Thorax 58 (8): 6749. doi:10.1136/thorax.58.8.674(http://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fthorax.58.8.674) .PMC 1746772 (//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1746772) . PMID 12885982(//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12885982) .//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1746772/.

27.

^ Bhattacharya S, Pandey US, Verma NS (2002)."Improvement in oxidative status with yogicbreathing in young healthy males". Indian J. Physiol.Pharmacol. 46 (3): 34954. PMID 12613400(//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12613400) .

28.

^ Jerath R, Edry JW, Barnes VA, Jerath V (2006)."Physiology of long pranayamic breathing: neuralrespiratory elements may provide a mechanism thatexplains how slow deep breathing shifts theautonomic nervous system". Med. Hypotheses 67(3): 56671. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2006.02.042

29.

Pranayama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama

4 of 5 9/24/2012 4:36 PM

(http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.mehy.2006.02.042) .PMID 16624497 (//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16624497) .^ Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha, 2002.30.^ Visakhapatanam, Bharat, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.Master E.K, Kulapathi Book Trust, ISBN

31.

81-85943-05-2^ Prescriptions for pranayama, Claudia Cummins(http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/673_1.cfm)

32.

^ Breathing Lessons, Tony Briggs(http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/219.cfm)

33.

Crowley, Aleister. 'Eight Lectures on Yoga'. Ordo Templi Orientis, 1939.Bhattacharyya, N. N. History of the Tantric Religion. Second Revised Edition. (Manohar: New Delhi,1999) p. 174. ISBN 81-7304-025-7Chidananda, Sri Swami (1991). Path to Blessedness, 2nd Ed. The Divine Life Society. World Wide Web(WWW) Edition (http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org/) ISBN 978-81-7052-086-3.Feuerstein, Georg (1998). Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy. Boston: Shambhala Publications.ISBN 1-57062-304-X.Flood, Gavin (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.ISBN 0-521-43878-0.Gambhirananda, Swami (1997). Bhagavatgt: With the commentary of akarcrya (4 ed.). Calcutta:Advaita Ashrama Publication Department. ISBN 81-7505-041-1.Harper, Katherine Anne; Brown, Robert L. (2002). The Roots of Tantra. Albany, New York: StateUniversity of New York Press. ISBN 0-7914-5306-5.Iyengar, B. K. Sundara Raja (1985). The Light On Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing. ISBN0-8245-0686-3Iyengar, B. K. Sundara Raja (1995). Light on Yoga. ISBN 0-8052-1031-8Macdonell, Arthur Anthony (1996). A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. New Delhi: Munshiram ManoharlalPublishers Pvt. Ltd.. ISBN 81-215-0715-4. Reprint edition.Mishra, Ramamurti S. (1963). The Textbook of Yoga Psychology. Monroe, New York: Baba BhagavandasPublication Trust. ISBN 1-890964-27-1. Reprint edition, 1997.Saraswati, Swami Niranjanananda (1994). Prana Pranayama Prana Vidya. ISBN 81-85787-84-0Shaw, Scott. The Little Book of Yoga Breathing: Pranayama Made Easy. ISBN 1-57863-301-XTaimni, I. K. (1996). The Science of Yoga. Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House.ISBN 81-7059-212-7. Eight reprint edition.

[[te: ]]Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pranayama&oldid=513939893"

Categories: Pranayama Sanskrit words and phrases

This page was last modified on 21 September 2012 at 22:47.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms mayapply. See Terms of use for details.Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Pranayama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama

5 of 5 9/24/2012 4:36 PM