We take about 23,000 breaths a day. How many of them are you conscious of? How many of them are paying attention to? More importantly how many are you using as a barometer of your health and well being? Pranayama (Prana = life force, Ayama= extension), the expansion of our breath and life force, is a practice. Just like asana is a practice. It is intentional, it is meant to have structure and purpose, and it is meant to be practiced regularly.