Meaning & use
pranayama
Last updated
UK/ˌprɑː.nəˈjɑː.mə/
US/ˌprɑː.nəˈjɑː.mə/
Meaning
noununcountable
The yoga practice of controlling and regulating the breath through set breathing exercises.
Grammar: Usually no article: we practise pranayama every morning.
Patterns
- practise pranayama
- pranayama for something
The class begins with ten minutes of pranayama to calm the mind.
She practises pranayama every morning before work.
Pranayama can help beginners learn to breathe slowly.
Common combinations
- practise pranayama
- He tries to practise pranayama daily.
- pranayama breathing
- Pranayama breathing slows the heart rate.
- pranayama technique
- The teacher showed us a simple pranayama technique.
- pranayama and meditation
- Her routine includes pranayama and meditation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- breath control
- Breath control is a general phrase used in singing and sport too, whereas pranayama is specific to yoga tradition.
- breathwork
- Breathwork is a modern umbrella term for many breathing practices, while pranayama refers to the traditional yoga ones.
Word family
Commonly confused: pranayama or asana?
pranayama vs asana
An asana is a physical posture in yoga, while pranayama is breathing practice.
Practice
In yoga, what is pranayama?
Choose one answer.
Pranayama means controlling the breath. A posture is called an asana, which is the tempting wrong answer.
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