Difference between Pranayama and Breathing Exercises

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Difference between Pranayama and Breathing
Exercises Most people think that pranayama and
breathing exercises are the same but it is not
true. There is a lot of difference between these
two. The first difference between these two is
the ideology or psychology behind these
exercises. Below, is a list of arguments that
tell the difference between the pranayama and
breathing exercises. Tools of Pranayama There are
different tools for pranayama that are used in
Pranayama. Below are these tools. Poorak
(Inhalation) It is related to preparing yourself
and then inhaling the air inside. Rechaka
(Exhalation) It is related to preparing the body
and then exhaling the air outside. Antar
Kumbhaka (Internal Retention) It is related to
the retention of the air inside a persons
body. Bahayia Kumbhaka (External Retention)
It is related to external retention or keeping
the air outside the body for a few moments.
Bandhas (Locks) These are three different body
locks that are influenced during the
Pranayama. Nadi Shodhana versus Anulom Vilom To
understand the difference between a breathing
exercise and Pranayama is to understand the
difference between Nadi Shodhana and Anulom
Vilom. Practice Anulom Vilom (Breathing
Exercise) Most people think that it is
pranayama, but it is only an initial stage, it is
a stage where you prepare yourself for the actual
pranayama. It is a breathing exercise that you do
to prepare yourself to enter the realm of
Pranayama. To practice Anulom Vilom, you need to
sit, cover one nostril with fingers and breathe,
then release, and shift the nostril, and repeat
this step. Apart from inhalation and exhalation,
you can also perform a few counts of the
hold. Practice Nadi Shodhana (Pranayama) To
practice the Nadi Shodhana, you must have
completed a few breathing exercises. After that
preparatory exercise, it is time to start real
Pranayama. To practice Nadi Shodhana, you keep
the air inside your lungs for a longer period,
and you also use the three bandhas or locks. 3
types of Locks Here are the three bandhas that
are used in Nadi Shodhana.
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1. Mula Bandha (Root Lock) It helps in the
contraction of the pelvic muscles during
breathing. It helps in the inhalation and
retention of air inside the lungs. 2. Uddiyana
Bandha (Abdominal Lock) It helps in the
contraction and movement of abdominal muscles
during Pranayama. It helps in the exhalation and
retention of air outside the lungs. 3.
Jalandhara Bandha (Chin Lock) This is present in
the chin, and involves in the chin movements
during the Pranayama practice. It is used during
the whole process, from inhalation to exhalation
and retention. Conclusion During the breathing
exercises, the use of bandhas is not involved,
also the retention of the air inside the lungs
and outside the lungs is not required. That is
the simple preparatory step to prepare yourself
for the actual Pranayama. That is the major
difference between these. That is why it is very
important to know and understand both and
practice according to them.