When is the best time to do pranayama?

Pranayama is a practice that involves controlling your breath to extend and expand your Prana, which is the vital life force in your body.

It’s more than just a way to get extra oxygen; it helps control the flow of Prana in your body’s energy channels, called Nadis. By practicing Pranayama, you can calm your mind, cleanse your body, and improve your overall health and well-being.

Best Time to Practice Pranayama

According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Pranayama should be practiced gradually four times a day:

परातर्मध्यन्दिने सायमर्ध-रात्रे छ कुम्भकान |
prātarmadhyandine sāyamardha-rātre cha kumbhakān |2.22 |

1. Morning

2. Noon

3. Evening

4. Midnight

Ideal Time:

The best time for Pranayama is early morning between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. This time aligns with your biological clock when your lungs are most active.

Practicing during these hours requires less effort and provides maximum benefits, as your body's natural rhythms support lung function and overall effectiveness of the practice.

Benefits of Pranayama

• Helps with Asthma: Deep breathing can calm your mind and reduce stress, which might help prevent asthma attacks. It can also clear your airways and make your lungs work better. Kapalbhati breathing helps clear mucus from your respiratory tract.

• Good for the Mind: Bhramari breathing creates a humming sound that soothes the mind, reducing stress, anxiety, anger, and over-excitement. Anulom Vilom breathing can help you focus better and manage stress.

• Improves Breathing: Pranayama can expand your lung capacity and improve the way you breathe. Kapalbhati can help clear your sinuses, making it easier to breathe when you have a cold. Dirgha breathing improves how well your lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.

• Helps Cancer Patients: Pranayama can reduce stress, sadness, and fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. It also helps boost antioxidants in the body.

• Other Benefits: 1. Ujjayi breathing can make you feel calmer and increase your oxygen levels.
  2. Anulom Vilom can help reduce coughing.
  3. Sitali breathing can lower high blood pressure and help with hunger, thirst, digestion, and skin and eye health.
  4. Bhramari is good preparation for meditation. Kapalbhati strengthens the digestive system.