Words for the breath
Pranayama glossary
Thirty-four terms from yoga texts and contemporary practice. Devanagari and IAST are kept together so pronunciation, spelling, and meaning do not drift apart.
Breath and practice
- प्राणprāṇabreath / vital activity
- Breath, respiration, life, or vitality; in yoga traditions, a vital principle described through currents and functions.
- आयामāyāmaextension / expansion
- Extension, expansion, lengthening, or regulation; the second member in the compound prāṇāyāma.
- प्राणायामprāṇāyāmayogic breath discipline
- The deliberate cultivation or regulation of breathing and prāṇa within yoga.
- पूरकpūrakainhale
- The inhaling or filling phase of a breathing cycle.
- कुम्भकkumbhakaretention
- A deliberate suspension of breathing. Retention is a higher-risk practice and should never be forced.
- अन्तर कुम्भकantara kumbhakainternal retention
- A deliberate pause after inhalation.
- बाह्य कुम्भकbāhya kumbhakaexternal retention
- A deliberate pause after exhalation; often more demanding than continuous breathing.
- रेचकrecakaexhale
- The releasing or emptying phase of a breathing cycle.
- सम वृत्तिsama vṛttiequal pattern
- A breathing pattern whose active phases use equal counts; modern protocols differ in whether they include holds.Related technique →
- कुम्भक अनुपातkumbhaka ratioretention proportion
- The numerical relationship among inhale, retention, and exhale. Ratios are training tools, not targets to force.
Channels, bandhas, and vital functions
- नाडीnāḍīsubtle channel
- A channel in yoga’s subtle-body model; it should not be equated directly with an anatomical nerve or blood vessel.
- इडाiḍālunar channel
- A principal nāḍī traditionally associated with the left side, cooling qualities, and lunar symbolism.
- पिङ्गलाpiṅgalāsolar channel
- A principal nāḍī traditionally associated with the right side, heating qualities, and solar symbolism.
- सुषुम्णाsuṣumṇācentral channel
- The central nāḍī in traditional subtle-body maps; not a verified anatomical structure.
- बन्धbandhabind / lock
- A coordinated muscular and attentional action used in some advanced yoga practices.
- जालन्धर बन्धjālandhara bandhathroat lock
- A chin and upper-chest action traditionally paired with retention; best learned from a qualified teacher.
- उड्डीयान बन्धuḍḍīyāna bandhaabdominal lock
- An abdominal drawing action, classically associated with an empty breath; not suitable for unsupervised beginner practice.
- मूल बन्धmūla bandharoot lock
- A subtle lift or engagement at the pelvic floor in some yoga systems.
- प्राण वायुprāṇa vāyuinward vital function
- One of five traditional vāyus, commonly associated with intake and the chest region.
- अपान वायुapāna vāyudownward vital function
- The traditional vāyu associated with elimination and downward-moving activity.
- समान वायुsamāna vāyubalancing vital function
- The traditional vāyu associated with digestion, assimilation, and the central region.
- उदान वायुudāna vāyuupward vital function
- The traditional vāyu associated with upward movement, speech, and the throat.
- व्यान वायुvyāna vāyupervasive vital function
- The traditional vāyu described as circulating or pervading throughout the body.
Named techniques and supporting terms
- नाडी शोधनnāḍī śodhanachannel purification
- Alternate-nostril practice; this site’s beginner protocol uses an equal rhythm without retention.Related technique →
- उज्जायीujjāyīvictorious breath
- A breath shaped by a gentle narrowing at the glottis, creating a soft, steady sound.Related technique →
- कपालभातिkapālabhātiskull-shining practice
- A cleansing practice built around repeated active exhalations; force and speed make it unsuitable for many beginners.
- भस्त्रिकाbhastrikābellows breath
- A forceful practice using active inhalations and exhalations; hyperventilation and pressure are important safety concerns.
- भ्रामरीbhrāmarībee breath
- A practice that adds a steady humming sound to a gentle exhalation.Related technique →
- चन्द्र भेदनcandra bhedanalunar piercing
- A one-sided nostril practice associated in tradition with lunar or cooling qualities; methods vary by lineage.
- सूर्य भेदनsūrya bhedanasolar piercing
- A one-sided nostril practice associated in tradition with solar or heating qualities; classical forms may include retention.
- षट्कर्मṣaṭkarmasix cleansing actions
- A group of haṭha-yoga cleansing practices; lists and methods differ across texts and lineages.
- मन्त्रmantrasacred utterance
- A syllable, word, or phrase used for recitation, attention, or ritual; sometimes coordinated with breath.
- दृष्टिdṛṣṭigaze / viewpoint
- A directed gaze or point of attention used in some yoga systems.
- लिप्यन्तरणIASTscholarly transliteration
- The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, which uses marks such as ā, ṇ, ś, and ḍ to represent Sanskrit precisely.