Prana shakti is the life force that everything and everyone is made of. Many people consider certain breathing exercises to be Pranayama. Whilst breathing air is one of the major sources of prana, it isn’t the only. We draw and give prana from everyone and everything, whether animate or inanimate. Whatever you focus on energises you and is also energised by you. For instance an inanimate piece of stone is converted to an idol by an artist, there is certain energy now in the idol due to this focus, the idol is consecrated in a temple, there is even more energy in it since so many people are focused on it and furthermore if a miracle takes place in the said temple then it becomes even more focused upon and energised. It’s the same piece of stone but getting energy due to our collective focus. This energy is drawn by us in turn when we visit a temple.
If you take a walk in the forest, you will feel energised by it, in fact they have forest walks as recommended therapy in Japan. The CO2 that we breathe out is taken in by the trees and Oxygen is released by them. It’s actually a symbiotic and interdependent relationship. This is so with everyone and everything we come in contact with.
So Pranayama is actually an energy exchange. Fresh fruits, vegetables, salads, grains are also sources of prana, as are healthy and positive thoughts, emotions. If you notice, some people bring positivity wherever they go whilst some negativity. This positivity or negativity also affects your prana, remember prana is a two way street. You cannot control the prana of others, but you can certainly control your own prana. What you input(air, water, food, thoughts, emotions, etc) should be healthy and positive, what you give out should be healthy and positive, then you are practicing Pranayama.
So you see, practicing certain breathing exercises is not the only pranayama. You entire lifestyle, the way you conduct yourself, your choices of input – output and how you choose to respond to life, everything is Pranayama. In order to get good prana you must be prepared to give good prana first. This healthy and positive exchange of prana is pranayama.
Bodhisattva 