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Our people often ask, "Swamiji, why do some people break the prāṇāyāma mudrā differently?" It is because they lack understanding of the signs of the chakras and kuṇḍalinī, particularly iḍā and piṅgalā. Many practice like this or like that, blocking the air that is meant to flow out. While blocking is involved, it must be done correctly. The key is to balance the Sūrya and Chandra Nāḍīs. Our Ājñā Chakra is located here, between the eyebrows. This point must be balanced; otherwise, energy scatters. Those who have practiced for many years under a Master's guidance, paying close attention to the correct postures and positions, understand this. In large groups, teachers must know which postures each student should practice. Often, people attend sessions without disclosing issues like suddenly becoming unconscious or conditions such as epilepsy. Therefore, it is inadvisable to practice certain techniques while standing, moving the spine, or in postures like Śīrṣāsana and Sarvāṅgāsana. The practitioner's condition must be considered first. What you often see are demonstrations, perhaps in a stadium, performed without systematic completeness. Our "Yoga in Daily Life" is very systematic. Our teachers take great care instructing students on how to practice and what to avoid. For instance, one should never practice certain neck movements while standing, nor allow others to do so, especially with abrupt motions. These should be avoided. Prāṇāyāma belongs to the realm of kuṇḍalinī and cakras. In our body, we have 72,000 nāḍīs, or nerve channels. While all are important, four are primary. First is the Vajranāḍī, which balances the entire brain and is foundational. If something happens at the root, everything can be affected. Then there are the three principal nāḍīs: Iḍā, Piṅgalā, and Suṣumṇā, connected to specific glands. When we practice prāṇāyāma, we must balance our nervous system and chakras, and prepare for kriyā exercises. This requires first purifying the nāḍī systems—Iḍā, Piṅgalā, and Suṣumṇā. The Iḍā Nāḍī, the left channel, must be purified first. Issues like migraines often originate from the left side. The Sūryanāḍī (solar) and Chandranāḍī (lunar) must be brought into balance. How do we balance them? We use the index and middle fingers of the right hand during practice (the left hand can be used if necessary, as for someone without a right hand). We begin with the Iḍā Nāḍī. Many people practice incorrectly, blocking the breath flow with their fingers, which prevents proper exhalation and disrupts the balance of Iḍā and Piṅgalā. These two nāḍīs meet at the Ājñā Cakra in the center. Therefore, we place the two fingers on the Ājñā Cakra, which has two petals bearing the mantras "Ha" and "Kṣa" (or "Tha"). This union (Ha + Tha) signifies Haṭha Yoga. We begin by closing the right nostril with the thumb, leaving the left nostril free to inhale and exhale. When switching to the right nostril, we separate the ring finger and thumb to allow free breath flow. From the beginning, the Iḍā, Piṅgalā, and Suṣumṇā are paramount. When we look at a chart from Mūlādhāra to Ājñā Chakra, the Bindu may not be visible, but the Sahasrāra is. All these nāḍīs travel through to the Mūlādhāra Cakra. Modern medicine may claim these nerves only extend to the abdomen, but yogic knowledge states they continue to where the Mūlādhāra begins. Merely reading books without practice yields only theory. One must practice diligently for at least six to ten years to truly understand prāṇāyāma. Therefore, abhyāsa, abhyāsa, kaunte abhyāsa. In the Bhagavad Gītā, it is said to Arjuna, "O son of Kuntī, please practice, practice." Arjuna was so dedicated to archery that he would practice at night. Once, in a dark kitchen, he found his brother eating without light. His brother explained, "My hand automatically goes to my mouth." Similarly, when you practice with love and concentration day and night, a master teacher can guide you to become a perfect yogī, not just someone with fragmented knowledge. From the brain, the energy moves to the Bindu Chakra, the Nāḍī Bindu, the Ājñā Chakra, and then to the Viśuddhi Chakra. We see two nāḍīs moving in a serpentine path and one going straight, all the way to the mūlādhāra. What does purification of the nāḍīs entail? This is Nāḍī Śodhana, which is the purpose of prāṇāyāma. We hold the mudrā and always begin with the left nāḍī. Starting with the right can cause problems. Place the two fingers at the eyebrow center (Ājñā Chakra), use the right thumb to gently close the right nostril, and exhale and inhale through the left. Then switch. This is purification (śodhana). We must purify all nāḍīs. Forcing air into them can cause serious issues if it reaches the brain. The body is perfectly designed, but even in medicine, an injection must have air expelled from the syringe first to avoid introducing air into the veins. This is crucial. The left nāḍī, Iḍā, is purified first. Then we purify the Sūryanāḍī by closing the left nostril with the ring finger, keeping the two fingers on the Ājñā Chakra, and the thumb away, inhaling and exhaling freely. This is individual Nāḍī Śodhana. Once purified, we move to Nāḍī Vedanā, balancing by moving from one nāḍī to the other. We inhale through the left, close the left nostril with the thumb, and exhale through the right. We repeat: inhale left, exhale right. This is Vedanā, connecting the prāṇa energy between nāḍīs. Then we reverse: inhale through the right and exhale through the left. There is only one door at a time; you inhale through one nostril and exhale through the other, creating a path. First, we clean. Just as a doctor cleans an area before an injection to prevent infection, we purify mentally and physically. The moon (Chandra) and sun (Sūrya) have different activities. We bring them together, just as they merge once a month. We practice moving from right to left and left to right. Practice this for at least one to three months without hurry. After initial practice, return to it periodically. We work with Candra Bhedana and Sūrya Bhedana. Always begin with the left nostril to avoid mental imbalance. So, inhale through the left, exhale through the right; inhale through the right, exhale through the left. This is Anuloma Viloma, bringing balance to the nāḍīs. Then, one must progress through the seven chakras. Only then will the kuṇḍalinī understand it is in balance. What some describe as jumping or erratic movement is not correct. The serpentine movement represents the prāṇa energy being channeled and purified through these two nāḍīs, cleansing the chakras. The Sūryanāḍī must be balanced and ultimately merge, but it must pass through the Vajra Nāḍī and the Chakra Nāḍī. Then we can begin to understand and work with the Kuṇḍalinī. This is enough for today; we will continue tomorrow.