Kumbhaka

Kumbhaka is the pause between an inhale and exhale. According to B.K. S. Iyengar in Light on Yoga, the "retention or holding the breath, a state where there is no inhalation or exalation". Mr. Iyengar also notes that in some yoga texts the term is used generically to indicate all three parts of the breath: inhale, exhale, and pauses. Along with the inhale and exhale, the kumbhaka is essential to any practice of pranayama. To further clarify the teachings of pranayama the khumbhaka which follows the inhale is called the bahya kumbhaka and that which follows the exhale is called the antara kumbhaka. (Bahya means outer/exterior. Antara means inner/interior.)

Respiration includes inhalation and exhalation. In between these two processes there is a very minute gap or pause (normally in milliseconds) which is usually not noticed and it recurs, i.e., inhalation-pause-exhalation-pause-inhalation.... and it continues. The maximum gap or pause is observed in the state of rest. Kumbhak enforces to increase the pause by ceasing the breath routinely and continuously by various types of pranayama and kumbhaka exercises.

It has been said that It is being observed that the more time spent for pranayama (and kumbhaka); the more is the concentration and the better is the control over mind. Various ancient yogis (expert in yoga and pranayama) noticed the importance of respiration and its correlation with activities of mind and vital forces. Aging is also seen proportional to frequency of respiration or respiratory rate, i.e., frequency of inhalation and exhalation in one minute. Medical science recorded normal respiratory rate in humans as 12-16 breaths per minute with life span of 70–80 years. These figures may vary due to geographical, communal and other distribution factors.

Aging is proportional to respiratory rate (excluding exceptions), e.g.,

Though the level of consciousness varies from species to species, it is seen highest in humans where conscious mind can provoke to perform activities and exercises as per wishes and this voluntary performance is not up to such an extent in any other species and consequently all other species cannot cease their breath as and when desired (voluntarily). Some species (e.g., whales) can take enormous air and cease it for a long time but that is requirement and involuntary; and it is the necessity for them to this way.

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