KUMBHAKA

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Here is a clean Bullet-Gist distillation of your text, keeping it concise and faithful to yogic sources:

BULLET GIST — Kumbhaka (Yogic Breath Retention)

• Kumbhaka is the pause between inhalation and exhalation

• It is central to pranayama, the yogic discipline of breath control

Types of Kumbhaka

• Antara Kumbhaka: retention after inhalation

• Bahya Kumbhaka: retention after exhalation

• Kevala Kumbhaka: effortless, spontaneous suspension of breath

Purpose & Effects

• Cultivates stillness, focus, and dharana (concentration)

• The pause between breaths is a gateway to awareness

• Seen as a point of contact with deeper consciousness

Advanced Aim

• Extended Kumbhaka leads toward deep meditation

• Kevala Kumbhaka is associated with Samadhi (union with the divine)

Classical Context

• Ancient yoga emphasizes breath cessation, not just breath–movement synchronization

• Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras note that pausing the breath quiets mental fluctuations

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