Prana "The Vital Energy"

Breath is Life

Pranayama

“Prana, one’s vital energy, determines the function of one’s entire system.”  -Sadhguru-

Our breath is synonymous with our life. Breathing is so natural and automatic that most people never even notice that they are breathing unless it is excited or restricted in some way. Life enters us with our first inhalation and leaves with our final exhalation. It is truly one with our life force.

Prana has many levels of meaning, from the physical breath to the energy of consciousness itself. Prana is not only the basic life-force, it is the original creative power. It is the master form of all energy working at every level of our being. Indeed the entire universe is a manifestation of prana. Even kundalini shakti, the serpent power or inner energy which transforms our consciousness, develops from awakened prana.

“Prana” means “the vital energy”, “yama” means to gain control over that. So, it is a subtle process through which one can gain control over his inner energies. These processes are taught in their depth because transforming inner energies are very important to stabilize the body and the mind.  

On a cosmic level there are two aspects of prana. The first is unmanifest, the energy of pure consciousness, which transcends all creation. The second, or manifest prana, is the force of creation itself. The purusha, or higher Self, can be said to be unmanifest prana, the energy of consciousness itself, called devatma shakti or chiti shakti. Shakti is the creative energy of the divine that animates everything in the universe. In essence, we are always being breathed by this divine energy. When we inhale the Shakti is exhaling into us and when we exhale it is her inhale. From the unmanifest prana of pure awareness comes the manifest prana of creation, through which the entire universe comes into being.

Learning how to use your breath during yoga is highly important to enhance your practice and make your practice the best it can be for you. For the yogi the breath serves as an extension of the prana, or life force, as it moves in the body. It is the physical manifestation of the natural flow of this energy. By using the breath we increase our sensitivity to the flow of energy, and with that increased sensitivity we are closer to realization of our own divine nature. The breath has the capacity to open the body and allow our energy to flow more freely in our yoga practice. Awareness of breath brings mindful, sacred quality to an asana practice.

One of the first lessons to learn in the practice of yoga is proper use of breath. Yoga is a practice of connecting to the deep spirit within each of us. It is the practice of turning in to the essence of our hearts, all of our dreams and desires, and expressing them joyfully through our physical bodies, The breath  is the medium through which make that connection. 

The Five Pranas In Yoga 

The pranamaya kosha is composed of the five pranas, also called vayus or “forces of the air.” These five pranas are categorized according to movement and direction. This is an important topic in Ayurvedic medicine as well as in yogic practices.

Prana Vayu

• Prana vayu literally means “forward-moving air,” because it moves inward and governs all kinds of reception into the body, from eating, drinking, and inhaling, to the reception of sensory impressions and mental experiences. It is propulsive in nature, setting things in motion and guiding them, and it provides the basic energy that drives us in life. 

Apana Vayu

• Apana vayu, “the air that moves away,” moves downward and outward, governing all forms of elimination and reproduction (which also has a downward movement). It governs the elimination of stool and urine, the expelling of semen, menstrual fluid, and the fetus, and the elimination of carbon dioxide through the breath. On a deeper level, it rules the elimination of negative sensory, emotional, and mental experiences. It is the basis of our immune function. 

Udana Vayu

• Udana vayu, “the upward-moving air,” moves up and brings about qualitative or transformative movements of the life-energy. It governs the growth of the body and the ability to stand, as well as speech, effort, enthusiasm, and will. It is our main positive energy, helping us to develop our different sheaths and to evolve in consciousness.

Samana Vayu

• Samana vayu, “balancing air,” moves from the periphery to the center, through a churning and discerning action. It aids digestion on all levels, working in the gastrointestinal tract to digest food, in the lungs to digest air or absorb oxygen, and in the mind to digest experience—sensory, emotional, and mental.

Vyana Vayu

• Vyana vayu, “outward-moving air,” moves from the center to the periphery, governing circulation on all levels. It moves food, water, and oxygen throughout the body, and keeps our emotions and thoughts circulating in the mind, imparting momentum and providing strength.

In brief, prana vayu governs the intake of substances, samana governs their digestion, and vyana governs the circulation of nutrients. Udana governs the release of positive energy, and apana governs the elimination of waste materials. This is much like the working of an efficient machine. Prana brings in the fuel, samana converts this fuel to energy, and vyana circulates the energy to various worksites. Apana disposes of the waste products produced by the conversion process. Udana manages the energy thus created, enabling the machine to function effectively. 

The key to health is to keep our pranas working in harmony. When one prana becomes imbalanced, the others tend to lose their equilibrium as well, because they are all linked. 

Working with Your Prana 

It takes a certain level of attention and awareness to know how the five pranas are functioning. You need to be attentive. It requires you to keep yourself focused.

Most people can’t keep their mind on a full inhalation. Midway, their thoughts wander off, or they lose count or track. It takes months and years of practice to come to a point where you can keep your focus on the breath for the full set of cycles. This does not mean that it is not possible for every human being – it is. It all depends on what importance you ascribe to it. 

The meditation is to bring yourself to a place where, if you close your eyes, the world is gone in your experience. This is a blessing all of you should earn at some point. Only if you make yourself like this, are you capable of staying focused on something. Forceful concentration is not going to achieve anything. 

If you close your eyes, the only things that should exist for you are your breath, your heartbeat, processes in your body, and the workings of your prana. Only what is happening inside is life. What is happening on the outside is just imagery.

Staying Focused Is Key 

If you make it your number one priority, everything within you will organize itself accordingly. 

 "The real meaning of Pranayama, according to Patanjali, the founder of Yoga philosophy, is the gradual cessation of breathing, the discontinuance of inhalation and exhalation"

"When You Own Your Breath, Nobody can steal your Peace"