Pranayama is the fourth limb of yoga's eight-limbed path, serving as an important bridge after asana practice and before meditation. Prana means "life energy" and Ayama means "extension and control" — together, it's the technique of guiding and expanding life energy through breath. In the Ashtanga tradition, pranayama is typically studied formally only after asana practice has become stable.

Articles here share different pranayama techniques and practice experiences — from basic Ujjayi breathing to more refined practices like Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing). Correct pranayama practice can deeply cleanse the body's energy channels, balance the nervous system, and settle the mind, laying the foundation for deeper meditation practice.