Pranayama: The Energetics of Breath

What is Prana? Prana is cosmic energy, the dynamism of life. According to yogis it is present in the air, in our food, in our water, in our sunlight. It has no chemical or physical form, but it is our true nourishment, for without prana there can be no life. Not only does this energy exist, but it can be stored in the nervous system and through yoga the current of prana can be directed at will. The science of controlling prana is called pranayama (ayama – to curb or master). To interpret pranayama as ‘breathing exercises’ would be severely limiting the scope of the exercises and their true purpose. In this book André van Lysebeth describes the laws and techniques which are necessary for collecting, storing and conscious control of pranic energies within the body. PRANAYAMA is an excellent practical handbook on the yoga of breathing. This art, or science, is little known in the West, but, with discipline anyone can use it to gain great energy and calm in situations of stress.