Hatha Yoga* places special importance on the physical body, as the vehicle of the atman. We must purify the body (asana) and in the next step purify the mind.
The mind is unstable by nature; to gain control over the mind and achieve the "" indicated by Patanjali (Yoga Sutra, II.2), we have control of the breath** (pranayama), understanding "prana" not only as air (that is only part of it) but as a vital energy.
Prana is found in all cells, air, food, smells, water, light... this knowledge and control of prana is pranayama; and we can use it (in one of its aspects) to control mental energies through physical breathing.
(figurative image of Patanjali)
Human beings, often unknowingly, have manipulated pranic energy (great prophets and intellectuals) since the beginning of time; yogis want to use it to awaken spiritual power*** and elevate the mind to the subtle plane.
In ordinary breathing, we extract a little prana; in the controlled and conscious breathing of yoga, we manage to extract much more and store this energy**** (in the nerve centers, e.g., the solar plexus) to evolve spiritually.
I try to explain it in one paragraph.
Pranayama is a complex science aimed at extracting prana from the nadis ida and pingala to channel it and activate the central nadi sushumna, thus awakening and causing the ascent of kundalini shakti, which resides in muladhara, through the chakras until it floods sahasrara and thus attains enlightenment (or superconscious perception).
According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Ch. 2, I-6), before practicing pranayama we must master asana and cleanse the nadis of impurities (which is achieved well through Samanu or Nirmanu).
Good luck and have a great week!
**Regulating the breath helps us regulate and fix the mind; since mind and breath are interrelated.
***The Yoga Book, Vishnu Devananda (1968)
****One who possesses abundant pranic energy radiates vitality and strength, or for example, delivers a brilliant speech.All the power of will comes from control of prana.
Comment
Un artículo genial, pero hatha significa izquierda y derecha y como tu bien dices hace referencia a Ida y Pingala, donde Ida es el canal izquierdo, femenino y Pingala el derecho, masculino. Se asocia con sol y Luna por ser los antagónicos como izquierda y derecha, como el Yin y yang. Recordemos q Surya es Sol y Chandra es Luna.
Hari Om