30
Jun
What is Pranayama: The Fourth Limb of Ashtanga Yoga
The fourth limb, Pranayama, is often translated as “breath control” but carries a deeper significance. The term is derived from two Sanskrit words: “prana,” meaning life force or vital energy, and “ayama,” meaning expansion or control. Pranayama, therefore, refers to the regulation and expansion of the life force through deliberate breathing techniques. In traditional yogic philosophy, there is a belief that one’s lifespan is measured in breaths.