The Yoga of Patanjali

116 Lessons on The Yoga of Patanjalisteps we have 27 respirations arranged in three groups of threesets of respirations. This forms one unit of practice. You cando one unit in the morning and one unit in the evening or nightaccording to your other items of the routine. Gradually youcan begin conducting a second unit of 27 breaths every day.After the first unit you can take a pause, talk to friends orattend to some work and then conduct the second unit.Some­times you can continue any number of units accordingto your comfort, leisure and convenience. Let there be a minimumof one unit in the morning and another in the evening, the restbeing according to your convenience. Suppose you are waitingin the Air Port for a flight, or you are taking a flight. Then youcan silently conduct any number of units. After some time itbecomes effortless and automatic. Take care that it is notmechanical (without awareness) or monotonous (withdisinclination). Your awareness is the only thing which lifts youfrom the consciousness of your not-self to that of the Lordconsciousness.This is all about the breathing exercises. Nothingmore should be followed. As far as our group is concernedyou should exclusively follow this method because our grouphas to do everything with Patanjali, the Bhagavadgita and theMasters.Inhalation is called Prana and exhalation is called Apanain the language of Patanjali and Bhagavadgita. Prana includesall the in-drawing pulsations that are responsible for our receiving,reading, understanding, inhaling, eating, drinking etc. Apanaincludes the outpouring pulsations that include giving, offering,explaining, exhaling and excreting. “Prana and Apana shouldbe brought to equilibrium and that is Pranayama” says theBhagavadgita.Having achieved the regulation of these two pulsations,we are directed towards the discipline of our daily activities.Patanjali calls it “The Yoga of Action” (Kriya Yoga). The whole