Respiration is an inevitable process, important for two reasons, firstly it supplies oxygen to the body, vital for our survival and secondly it helps us get rid of toxins from the body.
Breathing occurs naturally, automatically and spontaneously comes into force from the day we are born and continues till the day we die. All human beings are born through it and live by it.
The act of breathing also affects our health; if it becomes modified or restricted then it is not at all good for our health and for our respiratory system.
According to Yog Shastra, there are ten types of Vaayu (wind /air /breath) in our body: Prana Vaayu, Apana Vaayu, Samana Vaayu, Udana Vaayu, Vyana Vaayu, Naag Vaayu, Kurm Vaayu, Krikal Vaayu, Devdatta Vaayu and Dhanajaya Vaayu. To enjoy wholesome health one has to have a control over all ten kinds of Vaayu.
Pranayama helps us to control our Prana (life force) and nine other vaayu in a better way to give maximum benefits. Yoga suggests that Panayama has the potential to enhance the power of concentration and when our breath is still, our Prana as well as our Citta (consciousness) all become still, steady and silent, thus stabilising our energy and mind.