Do Pranayam

Pranayam (also spelled Pranayama) is an ancient practice concerned with breath control. Research has shown that that practicing Pranayama can relieve symptoms of asthma. It is also beneficial in treating stress related disorders, such as anxiety and depression. There are a total of six types of Pranayam practice, all of which are detailed here.

Bhastrika Pranayam

 * 1)  Sit in comfortable position, you may sit even on a chair.
 * 2)  Breathe in through your nostrils until the lungs are full.  Feel the diaphragm move down to allow the lungs to expand and forcing the abdomen out, followed by the mid section of your chest expanding and finally your collar bone rising.
 * 3)  Breath out forcefully and uniformly, again through your nostrils. Again feel the collar bone dropping, chest deflating and the diaphragm moving up as the lungs collapse allowing the abdomen to be sucked in. This process of exhaling should be much faster than the process of inhaling.
 * 4)  Repeat the process. When correctly done, your chest will expand when you breathe in and deflate when you breathe out. Continue doing this for 5 minutes.

Kapalbhati Pranayam

 * 1)  Sit erect.
 * 2)  Inhale through your nostrils a little and exhale through both nostrils forcefully.
 * 3)  Inhale again a little and follow with another forceful exhalation passively and effortlessly.
 * 4)  Continue these cycles. The frequency should be about 60 strokes/minute.
 * 5) Continue doing this for 15 minutes. You may take a minutes rest after every five minutes.

Anulom Vilom Pranayam

 * 1)  Sit comfortably.
 * 2)  Close your eyes.
 * 3)  Close the right nostril with the right thumb.
 * 4)  Inhale slowly through the left nostril and fill your lungs with air.
 * 5)  Close your left nostril with the ring and middle fingers of the right hand and open the right nostril.
 * 6)  Exhale slowly and completely with the right nostril.
 * 7)  Again inhale through the right nostril and fill your lungs.
 * 8)  Close the right nostril by pressing it with the right thumb.
 * 9)  Open the left nostril, breathe out slowly. (This process is one round of Anulom Vilom Pranayam.)
 * 10)  Continue for 15 minutes. You may take a minute's rest after every five minutes of exercise.

Bahya Pranayam

 * 1) Breathe air out, touch chin to chest, squeeze stomach completely and hold for a while.
 * 2) Release chin, breathe in slowly.
 * 3) Repeat 3 to 5 times.

Bhramari Pranayam

 * 1) Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three on base of nose touching eyes.
 * 2) Breathe in. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
 * 3) Do this three times.

Udgeeth Pranayam

 * 1) Breathe in deeply, and chant OOOOOOm (long O and small m).
 * 2) Do this 3 times.

Tips

 * Do Pranayam preferably in the morning with an empty stomach.
 * If you prefer to do Pranayam in the evening, do it on an empty stomach and keep a gap of at least 5 hours between your meals and Pranayam.
 * Those who cannot sit in Asanas can sit on the chair and do Pranayam.
 * Never hold your breath while doing Pranayam.

Warnings

 * Pregnant woman and persons having a fever should consult a doctor before doing Pranayam.
 * Children above 5 years should do Bhastrika Pranayam for only 2 minutes, Kapalbhati and Anulom Vilom Pranayam each for 5 minutes.
 * Even after consulting doctors, it is important to remember that Kapalbhati can be risky in those who have abdominal wounds, surgical operations, hernia, peritonitis, appendicitis, prolapse of rectum or uterus, hiatus hernia and recently delivered women.
 * Some of the pranayam is not recommended for people with High Blood Pressure.

Sources and Citations
http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Pranayam