Pranayama can be grouped into 5 different types:
- Fast breathing (e.g., kapalbhati) – Fast breathing is often used before pranayama proper to clear the lungs and oxygenate the blood.
- Balancing (e.g., alternate nostril breathing) – Balancing pranayama such as alternate nostril breathing are key to pranayama practice.
- Relaxing, deep, slow breathing (e.g., bhramari) – When doing pranayama, the breathing is slow and deep, and it continues to be slow and deep at the end of the session. But techniques such as bhramari are especially good at bringing about relaxation, and as preparation for meditation.
- Heating – Fast breathing techniques and breathing through the right nostril stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and heat the body.
- Cooling – Breathing through the left nostril will stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and cool and calm the body.