Pranayama: the art of breathing

Regulate the breathing, and thereby control the mind. Because where the mind goes, the energy flows. -B.K.S. Iyengar

"Pranayama is control of Breath". "Prana" is Breath or vital energy in the body. On subtle levels prana represents the pranic energy responsible for life or life force, and "ayama" means control. So Pranayama is "Control of Breath".

Christ and Buddha said: “Lead a good life and your mind will be controlled”. Then how is it that so many compassionate, pure-minded and charitable people cannot sit quietly, still the mind and meditate? That’s because their breathing is not under control, and thus the mind is acting like a drunk monkey bitten by a scorpio.

Prana and mind are intricately linked. Fluctuation of one means fluctuation of the other. When either the mind or prana becomes balanced the other is steadied. Control the prana and the mind is automatically controlled.

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Thus, pranayama is so important because through the involuntary process of breathing we are able to control our mind and ultimately our energy.   

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There are many branches of pranayama teachings. Our way of teaching pranayama is based on the teachings of Yoga Point in Nasik and of B.K.S. Iyengar  (Guru Ji)