Pranayam
Pranayama is controlled breathing ("prana" = breathing, "yama" = controlled).
According to the Vedic scriptures the human body is made of five elements: earth (priithvi), water (jal), fire (agni), air (vayu) and ether (space). Amongst these five elements air is considered the most essential. In pranayam not only the air in the body is inhaled and exhaled but along with the oxygen there is vital force that is taken.