Pranava Mudra for Pranayama Yoga

Introduction 

Yoga is derived from a Sanskrit word 'Yuj' which means to join or unite. In simple words, yoga is a way to unite our body, mind and soul. There are numerous asanas or poses in yoga. Pranayama is one of the special and distinct branches of yoga. The sole meaning of pranayama is breathing exercises. Pranayama includes number of asanas which are related to breathing exercises. Pranayama is a Sanskrit word which means pause in the movement. Pranayama is a combined form of two words, prana meaning breath and ayama meaning exercise. Western countries believe and focus in deep breathing whereas pranayamas believe in controlled breathing practices. To proceed further, one must understand the meaning of prana and yama. Prana translates into 'life force energy' while yama translates into 'control or mastery of'. Hence, in totality pranayama is used to control, cultivate and modify the prana in the body. 


Pranayama exercises are essentially related to breathing exercises. The breathing process is composed of two main activities, inhaling and exhaling. In yogic term, inhalation is termed as Puraka and exhalation as rechaka. Through practicing breathing exercises, we can attain a healthy body as well as healthy mind. Pranava Mudra is one of the important asanas in pranayama. Let us explore about this important asana in yoga.


How to perform Pranava Mudra? 

Though Pranava Mudra seems easy to perform, but in reality you need to practice to achieve the correct way of doing it. The correct way of performing Pranava Mudra is as follows:

• Curve the first two fingers of the right hand palm and keep the last two fingers straight and together.
  
• Straighten the thumb and bend the right hand in the elbow. Place the curved fingers in such a way that they lie near the lips.
• Keep the right hand thumb on the right side of the nose and the last two fingers on the left side of the nose.
• By pressing either the thumb or the last two fingers, you can close the nasal activity of the respective sides.
• Remember that the pressure should be light and on just below the nasal bone, where the fleshy part begins. It must also be remembered to allow the movement of either thumb or last two fingers.

Movements of other parts must be avoided completely. To ease the cycle of inhaling and exhaling, six supplementary types are laid down. While practicing, you are advised to sit on padmasana, vajrasana or swastikasana. After sitting on either of this asanas, keep your left hand in dhyana Mudra and the right hand in Pranava Mudra. Close the eyes and concentrate entirely on breathing process. Let us also learn the six supplementary exercises to ease the breathing technique.

• Inhale and exhale with the nasal passages open. Try to increase the speed of breathing, keeping the body limits comfortable.
• Close the right nostril and try to exhale and inhale with left nostril. This is also called as quick breathing with the left nostril.
• Try doing the quick breathing with the right nostril.
• Alternately, try inhaling with right and left nostrils.
• Now, alter the exhalation with right and left nostrils.
• In the last type, exhale with the right nostril and inhale with the left nostril. Change the process of exhaling and inhaling with the right and left nostrils.