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→प्राणायामस्य प्रकाराः ॥ Types of Pranayama: Adding content with reference
== प्राणायामस्य प्रकाराः ॥ Types of Pranayama ==
== प्राणायामस्य प्रकाराः ॥ Types of Pranayama ==
There are basically four types of Pranayama viz.
There are different ways of describing the types of Pranayama viz.
# Vitalizing Pranayama like Kapalabhati
# Vitalizing Pranayama like Kapalabhati
# Balancing Pranayama like Nadi Shuddhi
# Balancing Pranayama like Nadi Shuddhi
# Cooling Pranayama like Chandra Anuloma Viloma
# Heating Pranayama like Bhastrika
# Laya or Silencing Pranayama like Bhramari<ref name=":0" />
# Cooling Pranayama like Chandra Anuloma Viloma, Shitali, etc.
# Laya or Silencing Pranayama like Bhramari<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" />
=== Vitalizing Pranayama ===
=== Vitalizing Pranayama ===
Kapalabhati is one of the vitalizing pranayamas. 'Kapalabhati' literally means 'shining forehead' in [[Sanskrit and Bharat (संस्कृतं भारतञ्च)|Samskrit]].<ref name=":0" /> It is made up of two words viz. 'Kapala' meaning 'skull' where skull includes all the organs under the skull too and 'bhati' meaning 'shining' or 'illuminating'. It is called so because the process influences the organs under the skull especially, the brain and the small brain in a good manner.<ref name=":4">Sunil Kumar Yadav (2015), [https://www.academia.edu/12631093/Effect_of_Bhastrika_and_Kapalbhati_Pranayama_on_Selected_Physiological_Variables_of_Sports_Men Effect of Bhastrika & Kapalbhati Pranayama on Selected Physiological Variables of Sports Men], International Educational E-Journal (Volume IV, Issue II, Apr-May-June 2015), Accessed on 2nd November, 2022.</ref> The process of Kapalabhati involves exhaling with full force by squaring the stomach inwards after deep inspiration. This act throws the abdominal gas out with a jerk.<ref name=":3" /> Thus, it removes carbon-dioxide from the body and makes one feel fresh, oxygenated and vitalized.<ref name=":0" />
Kapalabhati is one of the vitalizing pranayamas. 'Kapalabhati' literally means 'shining forehead' in [[Sanskrit and Bharat (संस्कृतं भारतञ्च)|Samskrit]].<ref name=":0" /> It is made up of two words viz. 'Kapala' meaning 'skull' where skull includes all the organs under the skull too and 'bhati' meaning 'shining' or 'illuminating'. It is called so because the process influences the organs under the skull especially, the brain and the small brain in a good manner.<ref name=":4">Sunil Kumar Yadav (2015), [https://www.academia.edu/12631093/Effect_of_Bhastrika_and_Kapalbhati_Pranayama_on_Selected_Physiological_Variables_of_Sports_Men Effect of Bhastrika & Kapalbhati Pranayama on Selected Physiological Variables of Sports Men], International Educational E-Journal (Volume IV, Issue II, Apr-May-June 2015), Accessed on 2nd November, 2022.</ref> The process of Kapalabhati involves exhaling with full force by squaring the stomach inwards after deep inspiration. This act throws the abdominal gas out with a jerk.<ref name=":3" /> Thus, it removes carbon-dioxide from the body and makes one feel fresh, oxygenated and vitalized.<ref name=":0" />
Kapalabhati is an important part of Shatkarma or Shatkriya, the yogic system of body cleansing techniques.<ref name=":4" /> The speciality of Kapalabhati is that it cleanses both the body and the mind using just the breath. It is highly useful for mind detoxification and purification. Another interesting factor is that Kapalabhati reverses the normal course of breathing making expiration an active process and inspiration a passive process. This is believed to induce the reverse flow of nerve impulses to and from the brain facilitating the stimulation and awakening of the [[Chakras (चक्राणि)|centers]].<ref name=":3" />
Kapalabhati is an important part of Shatkarma or Shatkriya, the yogic system of body cleansing techniques.<ref name=":4" /> The speciality of Kapalabhati is that it cleanses both the body and the mind using just the breath. It is highly useful for mind detoxification and purification. Another interesting factor is that Kapalabhati reverses the normal course of breathing making expiration an active process and inspiration a passive process. This is believed to induce the reverse flow of nerve impulses to and from the brain facilitating the stimulation and awakening of the [[Chakras (चक्राणि)|centers]].<ref name=":3" /> Kapalabhati also improves digestion and increases Agni.<ref name=":8" />
=== Balancing Pranayama ===
=== Balancing Pranayama ===
* Help in relieving nervousness and headaches.<ref name=":0" />
* Help in relieving nervousness and headaches.<ref name=":0" />
Moreover, alternative nostril breathing has two forms. Inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left is known as right nostril breathing or solar breathing and has a heating effect while the reverse ie. inhaling through the left nostril and exhaling through the right is known as left nostril breathing or lunar breathing that has a cooling effect. The Right nostril breathing is known to treat hypoactive conditions of the mind like sleepiness, dullness and fatigue while left nostril breathing is known to be useful in conditions of hyperactivity of the mind like insomnia, restlessness and nervous agitation.<ref name=":8" />
Moreover, alternative nostril breathing has two forms. Inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left is known as right nostril breathing or solar breathing and has a heating effect while the reverse ie. inhaling through the left nostril and exhaling through the right is known as left nostril breathing or lunar breathing that has a cooling effect. The Right nostril breathing is known to treat hypoactive conditions of the mind like sleepiness, dullness and fatigue while left nostril breathing is known to be useful in conditions of hyperactivity of the mind like insomnia, restlessness and nervous agitation.<ref name=":8" />
=== Heating Pranayama ===
Bhastrika is a very heating form of pranayama. It clears kapha from the head and chest and increases agni and prana. It counters cough and mucus and helps reduce body weight and fat. It also aids in the awakening of kundalini.
The process involves sitting in a comfortable posture, closing the left nostril as in right nostril breathing and breathing deeply and forcefully. This is followed by inhaling and retaining the breath for as long as possible, then exhaling through the left nostril, keeping the right nostril closed. And in the second round, closing the right nostril and breathing deeply and forcefully through the left nostril.
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 ===
However, it is not advisable to practice this Pranayama in [[Shishir Rutucharya (शिशिर ऋतुचर्या)|winter]].<ref name=":0" />
However, it is not advisable to practice this Pranayama in [[Shishir Rutucharya (शिशिर ऋतुचर्या)|winter]].<ref name=":0" />
Shitali literally means "cooling" and is another type of cooling Pranayama. The process involves sitting in a comfortable posture, sticking the tongue out and folding up its sides to form a long narrow tube like the beak of a crow. The passage is narrowed further by pressing the lips around the tongue. This is followed by inhaling slowly through the tongue, like sucking water that arises a distinct cooling sensation. Once the stomach is filled with air, the breath is held for as long as is comfortable and then it is exhaled through the nostrils.
It is said that Shitali more effectively counters diseases of heat than left nostril breathing. It counters thirst, builds plasma, is used for high fevers, is good for high blood pressure and hyperacidity and is an excellent practice for the summer. It is advised mainly for people with pitta-predominant body constitution.
Shitakari is another cooling Pranayama that follows the same procedure as Shitali. The only differences being, while inhaling, the sound produced is like "see" and there is no rentention of breath. It is immediately exhaled through the nostrils. Its benefits are also similar to shitali. It clears heat from the head and cools the emotions.<ref name=":8" />
=== Laya or Silencing Pranayama ===
=== Laya or Silencing Pranayama ===