practice must be preceded by a long course of Pranayama in which Puraka and Recaka
also play a part.
- (It is in) external, internal or suppressed modification; is regulated by
place, time and number, (and becomes progressively) prolonged and subtle.
In the Sutra given above the various factors involved in the practice of
Pranayama have been dealt with in a very terse manner. The first factor is the position
in which the breath is held. There can be three modes of performing Kumbhaka and the
three kinds of Pranayama referred to in this Sutra depend upon these. Either the breath
is held outside after expiration, or held inside after inspiration or just stopped wher-
ever it is at the moment. It is the position or manner in which the breath is held or
stopped which determines the kind of Pranayama. The second factor is the place
where Pranayama is performed. This will obviously have to be taken into account in
determining the period for which Pranayama is performed, the food which is taken and
other things. A Sadhaka who is practising Pranayama in the tropics will have to adopt
a different regimen from the one which is suited for another practising high up in the
Himalayas. The third factor is the time. Time here means not only the relative duration
of Puraka, Recaka and Kumbhaka but also the time of the year in which Pranayama is
being practised. Diet etc. has to be changed according to the season. Number, obvi-
ously, refers to the number of rounds at each sitting and the number of sittings in one
day. The Sadhaka generally starts with a small number of rounds at each sitting and
gradually and cautiously increases the number according to the instructions of his
teacher.
After pointing out the factors which are involved in regulating the practice of
Pranayama the author gives two words which indicate the nature of the objective to-