Pranayama, a cornerstone of traditional yogic practices, is the art of breath control. Rooted in the ancient wisdom of scriptures, particularly the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Pranayama is a profound technique that goes beyond mere respiratory exercises. It taps into the life force known as prana by aligning breath, mind, and spirit for holistic well-being. Pranayam in Bhagavad Gita In Chapter 4, Verse 29, the Gita briefly touches upon the concept of Pranayama, linking it to the practice of breath restraint and meditation. Here is the relevant verse from Chapter 4 (Transliteration and Translation by Swami Sivananda): Sanskrit Transliteration "apas yat c'hraddadhānāś ca tat tat kāmāyaṁ kalpate śraddadhānasya labhate jñānaṁ tatparaḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ" The verse highlighted emphasizes the significance of breath control, or pranayama, as a method for achieving self-mastery and withdrawing from the distractions of the senses. Pranayama, as described in various yogic texts includ...