PRANA is force of life Pranayama simply means elevating the prana Shakti. Yama meaning gaining control. Let me explain little about PRANA from Lalita sahasranama PRĀNA, is not a mechanical energy derived from matter, sustained by material nourishment and lapsing With the wearing out of material frame Prana is independent of matter and matter is dead when prana withdraws itself. Prana is a projection in this terrestrial universe of what is cit-Sakti , consciousness - force in the truth- creation above.