Pranayama; Cessation of Breath

‘Pranayama is not breath control but control of life force energy’.

Kumbhaka pranayama or retention of breath as mentioned in ancient Hindu ‘Yogasutra’ refers not to holding the breath forcibly in the lungs, but it refers to a natural state of cessation of breath brought about by scientifically practiced rhythemic breathing & going deep within in Meditation.

Pranayama, that transcends the need for inhalation and exhalation; when the breath stops effortlessly. In ‘Hatha Yoga’ it is referred to as ‘Kevala Kumbhaka’ breath becomes inner life force current, with complete control of the mind.

When with control of mind rhythemic breathing is transferred into the spine, practiced in awareness of the breath, thus achieving a balance of prana (inhalation) & apana (exhalation) in the spine.

This prana in the spine then becomes the life force energy which renders breathing unnessessry. The mortal breath becomes irrelevant. A practitioner then consciously experiences a process by which the energy retreats from the senses and a realisation dawns on him that life is not about inhalations and exhalations.

Life force is continously reinforced through Medulla (mouth of God) from the omnipresent cosmic source.

When breath ceases in a practitioner, he/she is infused with everlasting joy & a new realisation dawns, that it is the breath that is responsible for identification with gross body & its sensations.

With ceaseless practice of synchronized breathing in spine under guidance of a realised guru a practitioner slowly experiences cessation of breath, mind becomes more interiorized and a practitioner who goes within consciously perceives Divine Consciousness within.