Reading: Pages 185โ220
Live Session: April 26, 2026 8am UTC
This advanced section presents the sophisticated practices of anuloma, pratiloma, and nฤแธฤซ ลodhana prฤแนฤyฤma, representing the pinnacle of breath control techniques. Anuloma (โwith the grainโ) emphasizes controlled exhalation through alternate or both nostrils, while pratiloma (โagainst the grainโ) focuses on refined inhalation control. Both practices require the integration of digital control, retention, and bandhas, demanding years of preparation and exceptional sensitivity. Sลซrya bhedana (sun-piercing) and candra bhedana (moon-piercing) work specifically with solar and lunar energies through right and left nostril breathing respectively. The culminating practice of nฤแธฤซ ลodhana (nerve purification) combines all previous techniques into a complete system for balancing the nervous system and preparing for meditation. Iyengar emphasizes that these practices require โconstant meticulous attention and firm determination,โ representing the marriage of technical precision with deep spiritual purpose. The detailed stages and progressions demonstrate how advanced prฤแนฤyฤma becomes a complete path of transformation.
Questions to Guide Your Reading
Read these before you start the assigned pages. They’ll help orient your attention.
What is the key difference in emphasis between anuloma and pratiloma prฤแนฤyฤma?
In sลซrya bhedana prฤแนฤyฤma, which nฤแธฤซs are being used and what are their qualities?
What does โnฤแธฤซ ลodhanaโ literally mean and why is it called the most difficult prฤแนฤyฤma?
ย According to the text, how many possible permutations and combinations exist for sลซrya and candra bhedana with viloma techniques?
What specific brain effects does Iyengar describe for advanced nฤแธฤซ ลodhana practice?
Reflection prompts
Read these during or after you read to connect the teachings with your embodied experience.
How do you personally experience the difference between solar (heating) and lunar (cooling) breath practices?
How has learning about these advanced techniques changed your appreciation for simpler practices?
What does โnerve purificationโ mean to you based on your own experience with alternate nostril breathing?
These will be made available 24-48 hours after the session
These will be made available 24-48 hours after the session
This session is part of the Light on Prฤแนฤyฤma Study Pack โ a complete resource for those who want ongoing access to all the recordings, study questions, and materials from this cycle.
The Study Pack includes all session recordings (watch and rewatch at your own pace), the complete Study Companion PDF with reading schedule, focus questions, reflection prompts, and practical tools for teaching, key Sanskrit terms with explanations, and a curated bibliography for further exploration.
Agi Wittich is a yoga practitioner since two decades, and is a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher. Wittich studied Sanskrit and Tamil at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, completing a PhD with a focus on Hinduism, Yoga, and Gender. She has published academic papers exploring topics such as Iyengar yoga and women, the effects of Western media on the image of yoga, and an analysis of the Thirumanthiram yoga text.
