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The pranayama reference · प्राणायाम

Learn it. Understand it. Practice it — on the same page.

The definitive, safety-first guide to yogic breathing: sourced from the classical texts, reviewed by teachers, and guided breath by breath.

Cited from classical textsTeacher-reviewedContraindications shown first

Nāḍī Śodhana

a gentle guided session

नाडी शोधन
Prepare. Both nostrils

Prepare

Sit comfortably. Soften the face and shoulders.

4 secRound 1 of 8Breathing through: Both nostrils
Duration
Guidance
Visual guidance stays on
Understand it

Not just what to do — why it works.

Every practice is mapped to the ideas behind it: the phases of the breath, the energy model, the texts it comes from, and the evidence for it. Follow the threads as deep as you like.

प्राणायामPrāṇāyāma
पूरकPūraka · inhale
कुम्भकKumbhaka · retention
रेचकRecaka · exhale
बन्धBandha · locks
The library

Begin with the essentials

Six foundational practices. Each is a scholarly reference, a safety document, and a guided session.

Nāḍī Śodhana

नाडी शोधन
Alternate Nostril Breathing

A quiet practice that alternates the breath between the left and right nostrils. This page guides an equal, unforced rhythm without breath retention; classical and advanced forms add ratios, mantra, and retention and are best learned with a qualified teacher.

Balancing · Beginner
5 sources · draftPractice →

Bhrāmarī

भ्रामरी
Humming Bee Breath

A gentle nasal inhale followed by a long, comfortable humming exhale. The sound creates a clear inward focus without requiring breath retention; this page guides the simple hands-free form and documents the more demanding textual and lineage variations separately.

Calming · Beginner
6 sources · draftPractice →

Sama Vṛtti

सम वृत्ति
Equal / Box Breathing

A steadying practice built on one idea: make the parts of the breath equal in length. This page guides a gentle four-count rhythm in which the pauses are kept soft and optional; the firmer "box" form with full retention, and unequal (viṣama) ratios, belong to a teacher-led progression.

Balancing · Beginner
4 sources · draftPractice →

Ujjāyī

उज्जायी
Ocean Breath

A gentle narrowing at the throat gives the breath a soft, ocean-like sound and naturally slows and lengthens it. This page guides a light, no-retention version with an equal in-and-out rhythm; classical forms add retention (kumbhaka) and jālandhara bandha and are best learned with a qualified teacher.

Balancing · Beginner
5 sources · draftPractice →

Dīrgha

दीर्घ
Three-Part Breath

A slow, unforced breath that fills the body in three overlapping parts—belly, side ribs, then upper chest—and empties in reverse. It is the foundation most other pranayama is built upon. This page guides the gentle form only: smooth, comfortable, and with no breath retention.

Grounding · Beginner
4 sources · draftPractice →

4 · 7 · 8

श्वास
Relaxing Breath

A modern relaxation breath — popularized by Dr. Andrew Weil — that pairs a short inhale, a held breath, and a longer, complete exhale. Because it includes a breath-hold (retention), it asks for more care than a simple long-exhale practice: sit or lie down, begin with only a few rounds, and let the counts be loose. This page keeps the rhythm gentle; the hold is optional and any light-headedness means stop.

Calming · Beginner
6 sources · draftPractice →

Sourced from the texts

Instructions cite the Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā, Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā and the Yoga Sūtras — with lineage differences shown honestly, not flattened into one “correct” version.

Reviewed by teachers

Every technique carries a named author, a qualified reviewer, and the date it was last checked. No anonymous health content, ever.

Safety shown first

Contraindications and stop-signals appear before the practice button — never after. The guided player won’t lead a technique that isn’t right for you.

Pranayama is powerful. Retention and forceful practices carry real contraindications — pregnancy, high blood pressure, epilepsy, glaucoma and more. Start gently and read the Safety Center before you practice.

In your language

Pranayama, at home in your own tongue.

Built for India first. Read every technique, safety note and guided session in the language you think and breathe in — with Sanskrit kept faithfully in Devanagari throughout.

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