the most basic elements of the physiological breathing processes as well as the more subtle aspects of meditative energy control. There exist many more pranayama techniques which can be learned in time, but a solid grounding and competence of these basic 4 are required before anything more advanced is attempted.
   At first, you may experience resistance to pranayama practise. A physical resistance, due to a lifetime's bad breathing habits; a mental resistance to the necessary concentration needed; an emotional resistance to the feelings which can be triggered when locked emotions begin stirring; a psychic resistance to perceptions and states of meditation which may be unusual for you at this present stage. However, all these initial impressions will be overcome with regular practise, and the changes experienced will astound you, as the quantity and quality of your own life force is enhanced.

Nose Breathing
   Whenever discussing good breathing habits and the yoga techniques of pranayama, it must be mentioned at the outset, the importance of breathing through the nose. Although it may seem an obvious truth to many people, it often needs re-stating that:

"The nose is for breathing -
The mouth is for eating".

   It may be necessary to breathe through the mouth in times of extreme exertion, emergency or nasal restriction, and it is a true indication of good design that we have a back-up orifice for air intake. But the mouth is just that - a reserve or emergency apparatus for breathing. The nose is the proper doorway for healthy respiration.
   There are many gross and subtle reasons why the human body was designed to breathe through the nostrils. From a yogi's point of view, mouth breathing would have to be the single most illness-inducing activity performed today. Without a proper function of breath through the nostrils, no proper state of physical health can be achieved and maintained. There will not be correct body temperature regulation; there will not be correct olfactory function; there will not be correct cardiovascular function; there will not be correct digestive and eliminatory function; there can be no real improvement in yoga and one will never be able to attain a state of deep meditation.
   For many people, mouth breathing is just a chronic and unconscious habit, 

  
due to both lack of education about the importance of breathing through the nose, as well as a result of excessive nasal mucus. Pollution and poor eating habits also play a part in irritating the natural breathing functions, but that is all the more reason to be using the proper filtering system of the nose. Of course, smoking is a foolish habit which actually encourages the reversal of correct breathing by drawing the smoke and toxins in through the mouth and then (most commonly) exhaling the residue out through the nose. Consider for a moment, how many common activities of the day are encouraging mouth breathing. Eating, drinking, talking, running, smoking, swimming, snoring, and at many other times the jaw is just left hanging open for uncontrolled breathing.
   Unfortunately, there still exist schools of health educators who continue to teach the popular myth that we should inhale through the nose, then exhale through the mouth. This is also taught for pre-natal breath training in many places. According to both commonsense and the yogis, this is not correct. The reasoning behind this is explained in following sections, those dealing with the patterns and cycles of the alternating nadis and swaras. The specific reasons for nasal breathing during labour are covered in Chapter 5 - Birthing, in the section "Using the Breath" on page310.
   When one first commences to practise yoga breathing techniques, with the teacher's constant reminders to breathe in and out through the nose, there comes a sudden awareness of just how perpetually blocked or restricted one's nostrils are. This makes many people want to give up. The cause of the problem may be a simple one such as an accumulation of airborne particles like dust, or it may be a chronic mucus discharge, deformed nasal cartilage, or can even be a deviated nasal bone. In any case, the cause should definitely be investigated and efforts made to affect a remedy. The simple methods of relieving the airways should be tried first such as strong breathing and salt water cleansing. If this fails to clear it up, a professional examination should be made. Even to go through the necessary surgical procedure to open blocked airways will be well worth the difference that full nostril breathing can make to one's physical and mental health.
   So what solution does yoga have for this very common breathing dysfunction? Three things. Firstly a new awareness of watching out for mouth breathing, secondly the cleansing technique of Jala Neti, and thirdly the practices of Pranayama.