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Asana schematically analysed to<br />
indicate circuits of Pranic and<br />
psychic energy.<br />
Asana-mandala. Diagram of the<br />
five elements, Panehabhuta.<br />
146<br />
a stable triangular base on which the whole body makes a 'closed<br />
circuit' of the energy field so that the currents do not flow out from<br />
the tips of the hands and feet but are continually retained or<br />
'locked' within the body circuit while the position is held. After<br />
mastery over the posture of the body, the next step is to build<br />
energy within the system by taking deeper breaths in order to fill<br />
the lungs from apex to base, so as to absorb a maximum quantity of<br />
Prana current.<br />
Next, and of equal importance, is achieving rhythmical<br />
respiration by striking a correct ratio between the different phases<br />
of a breath unit. A breath unit consists of three parts: inhalation<br />
(shallow or deep), retention of the breath at any point of<br />
inhalation, and exhalation. Rhythm in breathing is a balance, a<br />
correct ratio, between these three. The correct timing of inhalation<br />
(puraka), retention (kumbhaka) and exhalation (rechaka) is 1 : 4 :2.<br />
Thus the duration of the breath control in degrees enumerated in<br />
seconds will be:<br />
Low<br />
Intermediate<br />
High<br />
Breathing<br />
in<br />
6<br />
4<br />
8<br />
Inner chalice<br />
(retention)<br />
16 1/2<br />
33i<br />
50<br />
Breathing<br />
out<br />
8<br />
10-12<br />
12-16<br />
Outer<br />
chalice<br />
(repose)<br />
The air is breathed in slowly through the left nostril, connected<br />
with the lunar channel, Ida, while the other is closed with the<br />
thumb. The breath is held and exhaled according to a specific<br />
rhythm. The exercise is repeated in the same rhythm and timing<br />
with the right nostril, which is connected with the solar channel,<br />
Pingala. During the exercise the syllable Om or a bija mantra is<br />
repeated to measure the relative duration of inhalation and<br />
exhalation; at the same time it is also essential to concentrate on the<br />
two nerve currents (Ida and Pingala) by their repeated and<br />
rhythmic filling and emptying; one feels, as it were, that one is<br />
sending the current impulses to strike at the root impulses of<br />
Kundalini.<br />
After completing a round of Pranayama, it is necessary to lie flat<br />
on the back, like a corpse (known as Savasana), to relax and calm<br />
the mind. The number of exercises should be increased gradually.<br />
When the breath is retained over a longer period more energy is<br />
2<br />
1<br />
3