It may be noted that the above mentioned exercises or steps in aid are not meant to be practiced one after another. As far as possible the sadhaka has to bring them into his daily routine of life without prejudice to his other responsibilities.

It may not be out of place here to mention that the moral basis of the Hindu way of life is based on the observance of all or any one or more of these steps irrespective of the fact whether one is a sadhaka or not. The first two steps in aid by themselves form a complete code of ethics of universal application and each step by itself is a piece of virtue which if followed properly would imperceptibly lift one up to higher levels of spiritual thoughts and insights.

In the path of yoga many go wrong in the practice of pranayama which is aimed at the control of breath preventing its misuse and waste. Breathing is the symbol of life and stands first among the bodily functions of Prana manifested through the sense organs of the body. That is why in the practice of yoga the first thing to be tackled is the breath. Breath of life is directly connected with the psyche. For this reason Pranayam should be practiced correctly as otherwise it will cause great harm to the health of the trainee. Any amount of book reading will not help. The trainee should approach it with great moral preparation. He should be initiated by a master who is an adept.

The practice of Pranayama roughly consists of neutralising, the incoming and outgoing breaths called prana and apana without causing any restraint or strain in the normal manifestation of life in the form of breath. Apana should be taken as that which is not Prana (Aprana). This neutralisation can be effected only inside the breathing apparatus, at the throat level below the base of brain stimulating medulla, pituitary and pineal regions of the brain. This is hinted in Bhagavath Githa Ch. V 27-29, where it is stated that the sadhaka (trainee) should sit tranquil concentrating his attention at the middle point of the brow neutralising Prana and Apana.