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Pranayama Yoga
Within the practice of yoga there are a number of different types of elements besides the postures. One of the most important and often ignored elements is that of pranayama or control of breath. Prana is translated to mean both breath and the vital energy of the universe, and this concept is an important part of any complete yoga practice. It is breath control that is said to not only improve your ability to perform advanced postures, but also to achieve the most results from meditation and the mind body balance that is the goal of yoga itself.
There are essentially a number of ways that one can integrate pranayama into their yoga routine. This includes a number of breathing exercises, both for beginners and more advanced yogis. While breathing may sound like a simple enough task, there are a number of yoga breathing exercises that should not be attempted by beginners as they can lead to fainting. In general, a safe one to start with is the alternative nostril breathing technique or Anuloma Viloma. Other breathing exercises of pranayama include. 
- Controlled Breathing (Quiet, Deep or Fast Breathing)
- Tribandha and Pranayama
- Ujjayi Pranayama
- Bhramari Pranayama
- Hatha Yoga Pranayama
In general, like any aspect of yoga, it is a good idea to get proper instruction from a fully qualified teacher before starting any breathing exercises on your own in order to get the maximum benefit and remain safe.
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Why is pranayama always done sitting? Can pranayama be done lying or standing?
The yoga sutras do not stipulate any particular posture but state that a student can work on pranayama after a resonable mastery of postures. Pranayama may be done standing, lying down, seated on the floor or in a chair, as long as the spine is stable and a certain straightness of spine is maintainedso as to keep the chest and abdomen free and relaxed for breathing.
Generally, a standing posture is not used for regular pranayama practice as it offers little stability and comfort. The ancient yoga texts recommenend the seated postures as they provide the greatest level of stability and comfort for prolonged periods. A seated position is also useful because it can assist with greater vertical expansion of the lungs.
What are the physiological benefits of yogic breathing compared to normal breathing?
In normal breathing there is little movement of the diaphragm resulting in shallow, rapid respiration and uneven dilation of the lungs. This results in an uneven diffusion and exchange of the gases, and inefficient circulation of oxygen flow in the blood.
In yogic breathing, increased diaphragmatic movement dilate the lungs to a much larger degree. This leads to more efficient gaseous exchange and increased flow of oxygen in the blood, and improved return of blood flow and drainage of the sub-diaphragmatic lymphatic system.
Yogic breathing also promotes deep, slow breathing which has been shown to release endorphins - potent brain chemicals that help us cope with pain, fear and anxiety.