Which is better—pranayam before asanas or after asanas– in yoga?
Prana=vital energy or life force. Ayama=extension or expansion. Pranayama utilizes breathing to influence the flow of prana in the nadis (energy channels) of the pranamaya kosha (energy body). Realistically, pranayama can be practiced at any time on an empty stomach, especially in the early morning when the mind has few distractions and the body is rested and fresh. Pranayama such as ujjayi can be practiced during asanas, but for the sake of this discussion formal, concentrated pranayama practice methodology will be discussed. However, it is my opinion that pranayama has a greater influence on health after an asana practice that has concluded with svasana (corpse pose). An intelligent prescriptive asana practice will stimulate the chakras by allowing pranic energy to flow more freely through the nadis. Therefore the benefits of pranayama will be increased after asana practice,and for this reason is ideal before meditation practice. It can also be stated that after asana the physical bo
