The breath cycle

Prāṇāyāma is built on a small number of core techniques. Before moving into the techniques themselves, it helps to break them down into their components, understand each of them, and learn how they work together.

Three central components — inhalation, exhalation, and retention — form the complete breath cycle. We will work with all three consciously, using their relationship and durations to change our internal states. The duration ratios of each component have been refined through centuries of practice and carry specific physiological and energetic effects.