Changes

# Nadi shodhana: A is a practice whereby the pranic channels are purified and regulated, it is a prelude to all the other Pranayamas.

# Nadi shodhana: A is a practice whereby the pranic channels are purified and regulated, it is a prelude to all the other Pranayamas.

# Bhastrika

# Bhastrika: The practice is so called because the diaphragm movement here imitates a pair of bellows and fans the internal fire, creating physical, pranic and psychic heat.

# Kapalbhati (also a shatkarma)

# Kapalbhati: This pranayama invigorates the entire brain and the centres responsible for subtle perception and insight. It is also a cleansing practice and is therefore, listed as a shatkarma.

# Shitali/Shitakari

# Shitali/Shitakari: These two practices are designed to reduce body heat. They cool both the body and mind.

# Bhramari

# Bhramari: This practice is so called because the practitioner imitates the same deep, low pitched humming sound as that of the black bee. It is used in nada yoga to awaken awareness of the inner psychic sounds.

# Ujjayi

# Ujjayi: Ujjayi is one of the simplest Pranayamas. It is also known as the psychic breath as it induces a meditative state and leads to very subtle states of mind. It is an indispensable part of many meditative techniques such as mantra japa, ajapa japa, kriya yoga and prana vidya.

# Murccha

# Murccha: Murchha means 'fainting' or 'swooning'. This pranayama is intended to arouse the feeling of unconsciousness and is best learnt under expert guidance. It also expands the consciousness, awakens bindu chakra and helps in storing prana.

# Surya bheda  

# Surya bheda: It pierces or purifies pingala nadi and stimulates Prana shakti. It activates the sympathetic nervous system and associated physical and mental states.

# Chandra bheda

# Chandra bheda: This pranayama pierces ida nadi and fills it with shakti thereby facilitating a predominant stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system and right brain hemisphere.

Some of these pranayamas increase heat, some cool the body down, some stimulate, while others harmonize and relax the nervous system.<ref name=":9" /> Therefore, based on their functions, there are different ways of describing the types of Pranayama viz.

Some of these pranayamas increase heat, some cool the body down, some stimulate, while others harmonize and relax the nervous system.<ref name=":9" /> Therefore, based on their functions, there are different ways of describing the types of Pranayama viz.

Since it is a forceful practice, caution is advised for people with weak constitutions so as to not aggravate pitta.<ref name=":8" />

Since it is a forceful practice, caution is advised for people with weak constitutions so as to not aggravate pitta.<ref name=":8" />

=== Cooling Pranayama  ===

=== Cooling Pranayama  ===