Light on Prāṇāyāma – Session 2 Reading Unit 1

This foundational section establishes Iyengar’s philosophical framework for understanding prāṇāyāma as the “heart of yoga.” Beginning with traditional invocations to Hanumān and Patañjali, Iyengar presents yoga as a comprehensive system for self-realization rather than mere physical exercise. He outlines the eight limbs of yoga, emphasizing how prāṇāyāma serves as the crucial bridge between external practices (yama, niyama, āsana) and internal disciplines (pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna, samādhi). The text explores the subtle anatomy of prāṇa through the lens of Sāṅkhya philosophy, introducing the concept of five sheaths (kośas) that envelope the soul and the intricate network of nāḍīs and chakras through which vital energy flows. Iyengar connects ancient wisdom with modern respiratory physiology, demonstrating how conscious breathing practices can purify the nervous system and prepare the practitioner for deeper spiritual work.

Who is Ādi Śeṣa and why does Iyengar invoke him at the beginning of the Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā reference?

What are the five kośas (sheaths) and how do they relate to prāṇāyāma practice?

How many nāḍīs does Iyengar say originate from the heart, and which Upaniṣad is he referencing?

How does your current understanding of breath compare to Iyengar’s description of prāṇa as cosmic energy?

When you practice āsana, do you experience the subtle body (energy, breath, awareness) or primarily the physical body?

How do you personally experience the connection between breath awareness and mental states?