Four Types of Pranayama in Patanjali Yoga

According to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, there are four types of Pranayama: Bahya Vritti, Abhyantara Vritti, Stambha Vritti, and the fourth, called Chaturtha Pranayama. They are described in Sutras 2.50 and 2.51. This article explains what Pranayama is and how each of the four types works.

Pranayama is an important practice in Yoga. It was developed by the Indian sages, and people around the world now practise it for health and well-being. It is a practice based on the breath.

Read this article in Hindi: प्राणायाम के प्रकार

Pranayama is practised in a calm, steady posture. Patanjali describes four types in Yoga Sutras 2.50 and 2.51.

Table of Contents

1. Types of Pranayama in the Yoga Sutra
2. Definition of Pranayama
3. Three Types of Pranayama
4. Place, Time and Count (Desha, Kala, Sankhya)
5. The Fourth Pranayama
6. Summary
7. Frequently Asked Questions

Types of Pranayama in the Yoga Sutra

Maharshi Patanjali presented the whole of Yoga through the Sutras. In the second chapter of the Yoga Sutra, he explains Pranayama. Sutra 2.49 explains what Pranayama is, while Sutras 2.50 and 2.51 describe its types.

Type	Breath State	Description
Bahya Vritti	Held outside	Hold the breath outside, after exhaling completely.
Abhyantara Vritti	Held inside	Hold the breath inside, after inhaling fully.
Stambha Vritti	Held where it is	Stop the breath in whatever state it is.
Chaturtha (Fourth)	Beyond both	An advanced state, only for experienced practitioners.

The four types of Pranayama described in Yoga Sutras 2.50 and 2.51. The fourth type is only for experienced practitioners.

 

Definition of Pranayama in Patanjali Yoga

Patanjali defines Pranayama in this sutra:

तस्मिन् सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः॥2.49॥

Tasmin sati shvasa-prashvasayor gati-vicchedah pranayamah (Yoga Sutra 2.49)

Meaning: When the posture is steady, Pranayama is the control of inhalation and exhalation according to one’s capacity.

This sutra tells us that Pranayama should be practised only after the posture has become steady. It also points to three stages of breath: Shvasa (inhalation), Prashvasa (exhalation), and Kumbhaka (retention, inside or outside).

Kumbhaka is an important practice of Pranayama. However, it should be practised only by regular practitioners. Beginners, people with weak breathing, and people with heart or high blood pressure problems should not practise it.

Three Types of Pranayama

Sutra 2.50 mentions the first three types:

बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिर्देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः॥2.50॥

Bahyabhyantara-stambha-vrittir desha-kala-sankhyabhih paridrishto dirgha-sukshmah (Yoga Sutra 2.50)

Meaning: There are three types of Pranayama: Bahya Vritti, Abhyantara Vritti, and Stambha Vritti. When these are practised with attention to place, time, and count, the breath becomes long and subtle.

1. Bahya Vritti Pranayama: Holding the breath outside, after exhaling completely. This is also called Bahya Kumbhaka.
2. Abhyantara Vritti Pranayama: Holding the breath inside, after inhaling fully. This is also called Antar Kumbhaka.
3. Stambha Vritti Pranayama: Stopping the breath wherever it is, inside or outside. This state comes after the first two types are mastered.

These three types are suitable for regular practitioners who practise Pranayama for health, with proper guidance. All three involve holding the breath, so the same cautions as for Kumbhaka apply.

Place, Time and Count (Desha, Kala, Sankhya)

Sutra 2.50 says the three types should be practised with attention to Desha (place), Kala (time), and Sankhya (count).

• Desha (place): How deep the inhaled breath goes in the body.
• Kala (time): How long inhalation and exhalation take.
• Sankhya (count): The number of counts for which the breath is held during inhalation, exhalation, and retention.

With this careful practice, the breath becomes dirgha (long) and sukshma (subtle).

The Fourth Pranayama (Chaturtha Pranayama)

In the next sutra, Maharshi Patanjali describes the fourth Pranayama:

बाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः॥2.51॥

Bahyabhyantara-vishayakshepi chaturthah (Yoga Sutra 2.51)

Meaning: The fourth Pranayama is the practice that goes beyond the urge to inhale and exhale.

This Pranayama is different from the Bahya Vritti and Abhyantara Vritti explained above.

After we exhale and hold the breath in Bahya Kumbhaka (external retention), an urge to inhale arises after some time. If we give in to this urge and inhale, it remains Bahya Vritti Pranayama. But if we push the breath slightly outward instead, it is called the fourth Pranayama.

In the same way, after we inhale fully and hold the breath in Antar Kumbhaka (internal retention), an urge to exhale arises after some time. If we follow this urge and release the breath, it remains Abhyantara Vritti Pranayama. But if we draw the breath slightly inward instead, it is called the fourth Pranayama.

Some commentators describe this stage as the breath slowing or stopping on its own in deep concentration.

Caution:

• Beginners should not attempt the fourth Pranayama.
• It is not meant for those who practise Yoga only for general health.
• Such practitioners should practise only the first three types.
• The fourth Pranayama is only for experienced practitioners who practise regularly.

Summary

Patanjali Yoga describes four types of Pranayama. The first three are suitable for regular practitioners who practise for health, with proper guidance, while the fourth is for experienced practitioners only. As these practices involve holding the breath, the cautions given for Kumbhaka apply to them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many types of Pranayama are there in Patanjali Yoga?

There are four types: Bahya Vritti, Abhyantara Vritti, Stambha Vritti, and Chaturtha (the fourth) Pranayama. They are described in Yoga Sutras 2.50 and 2.51.

What are Bahya, Abhyantara and Stambha Vritti Pranayama?

Bahya Vritti means holding the breath outside after exhaling. Abhyantara Vritti means holding it inside after inhaling. Stambha Vritti means stopping the breath wherever it is.

What is the fourth Pranayama in the Yoga Sutra?

It is the practice described in Sutra 2.51, which goes beyond the urge to inhale and exhale. It is only for experienced practitioners.

What do place, time and count mean in Sutra 2.50?

Place is the depth of the breath in the body. Time is the duration of inhalation and exhalation. Count is the number of counts of retention. Practised with this attention, the breath becomes long and subtle.

Are Patanjali’s types of Pranayama the same as Anulom Vilom or Kapalbhati?

No. Patanjali’s types describe the state of the breath: outside, inside, or steady. Anulom Vilom and Kapalbhati are separate practices.

Can beginners practise these Pranayamas?

Beginners should start with simple, slow breathing without retention. They should practise retention only under an experienced teacher. The fourth type should not be attempted.

Which sutra defines Pranayama?

Yoga Sutra 2.49 defines Pranayama as the control of inhalation and exhalation once the posture is steady.

Disclaimer:

Practise Pranayama according to your breathing capacity. The practice described here is only for experienced Yoga practitioners. Beginners should follow it under the guidance of an experienced teacher. Forceful practice can be harmful.