Rechaka & Puraka Kumbhaka Pranayama

3 Ujjayi breaths (with ujjayi breathing, ratio of inhale to exhale is 1: 1)

You may inhale and then exhale or inhale and in the exhale chant aum

1) RECHAKA AND PURAKA KUMBHAKA

The ratio of the length of the inhalation of breath to the exhalation of the breath in Ashtanga as I was taught is 1:1. Many others do a Puraka Kumbhaka 4:16:8

A. Rechaka Kumbhaka

Inhale, exhale, then hold breath. Repeat for a total of three breaths

Then immediately begin Puraka Kumbhaka

B. Puraka Kumbhaka

Inhale, hold, exhale. Repeat for a total of three breaths

Ratio of the length of the retentions for exhale (rechaka) vs inhale (puraka) is 2 : 3, for example, if the retention after the exhale lasts 6 seconds, the retention after the inhale should last 9 seconds.

e. 3 Ujjayi breaths as a transition before next stage of pranayama