Pranayama is the ancient yogic practice of controlling the mind using breath through conscious breathing exercises. Pranayama also balances the prana in the right and left hemispheres of the body and cleanses the nadis of blocks to stimulate a smoother flow of energy. The yogis taught that the mind and breath are intimately connected; our state of mind affects our breathing and similarly breathing can help change one’s state of mind. And so by mastering the breath one can gain mastery of the mind.