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Breath

prAnAyAma iti prAnasya sthirata recaka pUraka kumbhaka samghattakarana catvari prAnAyAma laksanAniPranayama is the stability of the breathing. The exhalation, the inhalation, the holding of breath and their combination; these are the four features of breath control.
2.35 Siddha siddhAnta paddhatiH of GorakshanAtha
Pranayama, means control of the breath. or mastery of life force.
Breathing connects our inner core to the outer world. It is a bridge between the conscious and the subconscious, the connection between body (the past) and mind (the future), solely the breath abides in this moment, in the here and now.
 

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Lifeforce

He (Shiva) is manifested first in the initial movement of that breath, which is only filled with life (pranamayah)
and then during breathing in and breathing out (prana),
which in exhaling, creates
and in inhaling, destroys.
In reality, this breath is residing in the heart of beings.
(Svacchanda T. 7.25) 

The Life Force, Prana
In the teachings of Yoga we find a description of an encompassing, all pervading and all penetrating life force. In Sanskrit it is called prana and the term does not only denote life force but the act of breathing as well. Prana, inspite of its all penetrating nature is readily available to us primarily  in the air we breathe and the food we eat.
According to the teachings of Yoga with the breathing and the food, gross as well as subtle substances are absorbed, distributed and circulated in the body in a huge network of pathways or channels (nadi).
We absorb lesser amounts of subtle energies along with our sense impressions as well.

sthUla sukshma kArana turyam turyAtItam iti paNcAvasthA kramena lakshyante
eteshAm api sarveshAm vijNAtA yaH sa yogI sa siddha purushaH sa yogisvara iti param rahasyaM prakashsitam

Gross (sthula) subtle (sukshma) causal (karana), the fourth state (turya),
beyond the fourth (turyatita) this is the sequence of awareness of the five states.
The Yogi that cognizes all of the states is a Perfected One (siddhapurusha), a Lord of Yoga (yogishvara).
This elucidates the highest secret.
Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati 5.51

ekasthamban navadvAran gRham panchAdhidaivatam
svadeham ye na jAnanti kathaM sidhyanti yoginaH

One Pillar and nine doors has this house of five deities,
not knowing his own body how can the yogi attain perfection?
Goraksha sataka 14

dehe´sminvartate meruH saptadIpasamavitaH
saraitaH sAgarAh sailAH kShetrAni KshetrapAlakAH

In this body is Mount Meru, surrounded by the seven islands.
Furthermore, there are rivers, oceans, mountains, regions, and the guardians of those regions.
Shiva Samhita Kapitel 2 Vers 1

Rshaya maunayaH sarve nakshatrAni grahAstathA
puNyatIrthani pIthA varthanteh pithadevatAh
Located within are all the seers and sages, the constellations and planets,
as well as the sacred places, seats of power, and their presiding deities.
Shiva Samhita — Chapter 2, Verse 2

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