Prana - by Prasad Rangnekar (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An encouraging, practical guide to understanding prāṇa--the yogic life force that goes beyond the breath to nourish body, mind, and spirit.

The first volume in the Yoga Masters Series, which offers the timeless wisdom of essential yoga practices for the contemporary seeker.

For thousands of years, yogis have understood what science now confirms: How we breathe can transform how we feel, think, and live. But in traditional yoga, prāṇa is more than breathing techniques--it's the subtle energy that connects the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of our lives.

Drawing from the timeless wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads, Tantra, and Ayurveda and modern scientific insights, yoga educator Prasad Rangnekar offers a grounded, accessible exploration of prāṇa as breath practice and beyond. With clear explanations and practical exercises, you'll discover how principles of prāṇa and practices of prāṇāyāma can support:

• Respiratory health and physical vitality
• Emotional balance and nervous system regulation
• Mental clarity and focus
• Meditation, inner stillness, and self-realization

Both an introduction and a deepening for serious practitioners, this book invites you into a richer relationship with your own life force--and with the living, breathing tradition of yoga itself.

Review Quotes

"Prasad Rangnekar is a cherished teacher whose work has deeply inspired me over the years. In Prāṇa: The Practice of Body, Mind, and Breath, he offers something increasingly rare in the modern yoga world: a sincere, nuanced, and deeply rooted exploration of yoga's inner teachings that does not reduce prāṇa to mere breathwork or technique but restores it to its rightful place as the living thread connecting body, mind, nature, and consciousness itself. What moved me most was the way Prasad bridges scholarship, lived practice, and direct contemplative insight. He reminds us that yoga is not merely physical exercise but a profound process of refining perception and awakening our participation in the greater field of life. I highly recommend this book to every sincere student and teacher of yoga. It is a valuable resource and a meaningful contribution to the preservation of yoga's deeper wisdom."
--Kino MacGregor, author of Accessible Ashtanga

"Prasad Rangnekar invites us off the riverbank of theory and into the living current of prāṇa, the subtle thread that connects all existence, in this luminous book. Rooted in the insights of the Vedas, Upanishads, and yogic traditions, and written in accessible, contemporary language, his book is an invitation to explore prāṇa beyond breathing, as the subtle force that animates our bodies, shapes our minds, and is the aliveness seen in every aspect of the universe. Prāṇa: The Practice of Body, Mind, and Breath is a doorway into prāṇa for new students and nuanced companion for those with knowledge of yoga. It will expand your understanding of prāṇa beyond techniques and show you how prāṇa is the foundation of our collective, lived experience."
--Eddie Stern, author of One Simple Thing

"This book on prāṇa feels like a gift, aptly, a kind of prasad for our times. It explores prāṇa from the inside out, weaving body, mind, and breath into everyday living rather than leaving it as abstract knowledge. Its strength lies in how naturally it bridges the tangible and intangible. Prāṇa is presented as more than respiration--as a doorway to awareness expressed through every aspect of life. Both scientific and experiential, the book invites us to see ourselves not as limited by thoughts, emotions, or sensations but as expansive beings. In doing so, it points toward greater coherence and conscious participation within ourselves and the larger field of existence that connects all."
--Abha Karki Rajbhandari, PhD, neuroscientist and yoga teacher

"A necessary read for every yoga student and teacher. Prāṇa is one of the most misunderstood and overlooked concepts in yoga, yet it is integral to the tradition and to an authentic practice. To truly understand yoga in its entirety, prāṇa deserves to be explored in depth at every teacher training, yet it is so often missed. Prasad Rangnekar has taken one of the most fundamental concepts in yoga and given us an accessible handbook that reflects his own wisdom while transmitting the teachings of our sacred texts and lineage. This book will give yoga seekers an entirely new perspective on prāṇa, one that reaches far beyond life force or breath, and has the power to change the trajectory of their practice entirely."
--Nikita Desai, yoga instructor, educator, and author

"Reverent and deeply inspiring, this book reflects the love, care, and profound knowledge that Prasadji brings to the study of prāṇa and yoga. In a time when yogic teachings are often decontextualized, this book offers a more thoughtful and expansive exploration of prāṇa as a living intelligence, offering readers a way to engage with prāṇa as an embodied and relational force. This is essential reading for students and teachers committed to seeking depth, context, and integrity in their study and practice."
--Harpinder Kaur Mann, E-RYT, SEP, author of Liberating Yoga

About the Author

PRASAD RANGNEKAR is a yoga educator based in India, with over 40 years of personal practice and study and 30 years of teaching experience. His work has empowered thousands of individuals across diverse cultures and countries worldwide to access inner calm, clarity, and resilience through the transformative principles and practices of Yoga. Grounded in a deep Yogic foundation shaped by his family and enriched by years of study across multiple philosophical and mystical traditions, his teachings bridge timeless wisdom with modern application. He holds a BSc in Biology and two master's degrees--in Philosophy and Business Management--which support his integrative and practical approach to Yoga.