Essence of Pranayama

Author’s Note

This book on the Essence of Pranayama Kaivalyadhama  has been prepared keeping in view the needs of all those who would like to undertake the practice of Pranayama in all its seriousness . It is also addressed to those who are interested in using these practices , not only for the spiritual purpose but also for its application in the field of health and healing . For the last several years , Kaivalyadhama has been organizing practical workshops for imparting training in Pranayama called ” Prānāyāma Sadhana Shibir “, in the city of Mumbai.

In these workshops , participants are taught the various types of Pranayama with all its intricate technical details . But the real emphasis in these workshops is always on the subtle essential aspect of Pranayama which makes it possible for the participants to have at least a few glimpses of the spiritual experiences at first hand , which would then act as the main motivator for them to progress on this path through further work on their own . In these workshops , quite often , it has been observed that there is a tendency in many a people to give exclusive or undue importance to the technical features of Pranayama at the cost of its essential and subtle nature.

In the absence of the knowledge of

which is the essential and the relevant aspect of the technique , and which is the superfluous and optional aspect ; the student gets waylaid easily into the plethora of techniques and then misses the opportunity of entering into deeper and spiritual experiences . This situation could easily be averted if one is alert to understand the practical aspect of Pranayama in its totality and can follow its essential aspect with full vigilance . The aim of this book is to help the student to grasp this essential nature of the Pranayama . All the relevant information from this point of view can be found in this book , yet it does not claim to be either the exhaustive treatise on Pranayama or the work which could replace personal teaching .

It is to be used mainly as the friendly companion while learning Prānāyāma under the guidance of some expert teachers . The practical information presented here is based on the author’s own understanding of this subject based on the scriptures and living tradition , as also its application in personal life as well as in the life of myriads of other Sadhakas . For more exhaustive treatment of this subject , the reader should refer to the “Pranayama “,an excellent book written by Swami Kuvalayananda , the founder of Kaivalyadhama.

Kaivalyadhama,

Mumbai.

18th April , 1997

Shrikrishna