Hatha Yoga Pradipika

How best to do the most common Pranayama

Being seated in a comfortable posture, Bhaving gained fixity with the muscular controls, and having drawn in external air through the right nostril in a relaxed manner, Kumbhaka should be maintained to the limit of retention reaching up to the tip of the nails and the hair. Then, again, air should be breathed out from the left nostril gently.

NOTE: Elaborate notes on these two stanzas are available in the different commentaries and some works. We shall deal with quotations from Kurma Purana etc. later. Many Asanas are suggested for the practice of Kumbhaka though Siddha is preferred. The right nostril is Pingala.