In his book Light on Pranayama, B. K. S. Iyengar writes: “Prana
is the breath of life of all beings in the universe.” It’s no
surprise, then, that pranayama, or the regulation of breath, is
an essential part of yoga practice. In fact, it’s unusual to
enter into a yoga class that doesn’t have at least some focus on
breathing. As Senior Kripalu Yoga teacher Shobhan Richard Faulds
says, “Unless practiced with sensitivity to the breath, yoga
postures fall far short of their potential to foster healing and
growth.” Numerous yoga texts highlight the importance of
breathing practices in regulating the nervous system and,
ultimately, in promoting optimal well-being. Experienced yogis
know that different pranayama practices produce specific
effects: Some techniques are meant to increase one’s energy;
other’s to quiet it. Some boost metabolism; others decrease it.
While traditionally meant for spiritual development, modern use
of pranayama—such as in conjunction with asana practice—is often
employed therapeutically to