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The  yoga  system conceived by Patanjali is referred to herein. In the  Yoga-sutra  of Patanjali, the soul is called  pratyag-atma  and  parag-atma.  As long as the soul is attached to sense enjoyment, it is called  parag-atma.  The soul is subjected to the functions of ten kinds of air at work within the body, and this is perceived through the breathing system. The Patanjala system of  yoga  instructs one on how to control the functions of the body's air in a technical manner so that ultimately all the functions of the air within become favorable for purifying the soul of material attachment. According to this  yoga  system,  pratyag atma  is the ultimate goal. This  pratyag atma  is a withdrawal from activities in matter. The senses interact with the sense objects, like the ear for hearing, eyes for seeing, nose for smelling, tongue for tasting, hand for touching, and all of them are thus engaged in activities outside the self. They are called the functions of the  prana-vayu.  The  apana-vayu  goes downwards,  vyana-vayu  acts to shrink and expand,  samana-vayu  adjusts equilibrium,  udana-vayu  goes upwards—and when one is enlightened, one engages all these in searching for self-realization.

This system of  yoga  for controlling the breathing process is called  pranayama,  and in the beginning it is practiced in the  hatha-yoga  system through different sitting postures. All of these processes are recommended for controlling the senses and for advancement in spiritual realization. This practice involves controlling the air within the body to enable simultaneous passage in opposite directions. The  apana  air goes downward, and the  prana  air goes up. The  pranayama yogi  practices breathing the opposite way until the currents are neutralized into  puraka,  equilibrium. Similarly, when the exhaled breathing is offered to inhaled breathing, it is called  recaka.  When both air currents are completely stopped, it is called  kumbhaka-yoga.  By practice of  kumbhaka-yoga,  the  yogis  increase the duration of life by many, many years. A Krsna conscious person, however, being always situated in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, automatically becomes the controller of the senses. His senses, being always engaged in the service of Krsna, have no chance of becoming otherwise engaged. So at the end of life, he is naturally transferred to the transcendental plane of Lord Krsna; consequently he makes no attempt to increase his longevity. He is at once raised to the platform of liberation. A Krsna conscious person begins from the transcendental stage, and he is constantly in that consciousness. Therefore, there is no falling down, and ultimately he enters into the abode of the Lord without delay. The practice of reduced eating is automatically done when one eats only Krsna  prasadam,  or food which is offered first to the Lord. Reducing the eating process is very helpful in the matter of sense control. And without sense control there is no possibility of getting out of the material entanglement.