Each breath a person takes can be broken into four stages - each with its distinct traits.
1. Puraka (Inhalation):
A single inhalation is termed puraka. It is a process of drawing in air; it is expected to be smooth and continuous. If a person should pause one or more times during the process of a single inhaling, the process might be spoken of as a broken puraka rather than as a series of purakas.
2. Abhyantara Kumbhaka (Pause After Inhaling) Full Pause:
Kumbhaka consists of deliberate stoppage of flow of air and retention of the air in the lungs, without any movement of lungs or muscles or any part of the body and without any incipient movements. Should only be practiced by an accomplished student.
3. Rechaka (Exhalation):
The third stage, exhalation, is called rechaka. Like inhalation, it too should be smooth and continuous, though often the speed of exhaling is different from that of inhaling.
4.Bahya Kumbhaka (Pause After Exhaling) Empty Pause:
The fourth stage, the pause after exhaling, is also called kumbhaka, especially when the stoppage is deliberate or prolonged. The fourth stage, the empty pause, completes the cycle which terminates as the pause ends and a new inhalation begins.
Keep in mind your breath should have 5 qualities:
Slow, Deep, Even, Without Sounds and Without Pause
