Usually, the basic ingredient that distinguishes a residing being from an inanimate object is named Prana.
For simplicity, Prana is typically known as the “breath” or the “air we inhale.” Nevertheless, for a yogi, understanding Prana goes far past simply breath.
Yogis view the breath as a software a method to manage, develop, or redirect Prana. This science of working with Prana is named Pranayama.
What’s Prana?
In response to the yoga custom, Prana is the important vitality within the physique that retains us alive. As a result of it sustains life, Prana is usually known as the “important life power” or “important vitality” of a residing being.
Solely when Prana flows steadily can the voluntary and involuntary capabilities of the physique happen. Respiration, digestion, heartbeat, strolling, speaking, and even pondering all are ruled by the motion of Prana.
Nevertheless, Prana shouldn’t be restricted to residing beings. It additionally exists in inanimate objects, permeating all types of matter.
To supply a broader view, the Vedic scriptures describe Prana as the facility of the Supreme Self that manifests the complete universe and pervades all of creation.
The literal Which means of Prana
In Sanskrit ‘Prana’ is spelled as ‘Praan‘ and its energy known as ‘Praan shakti‘.
The Sanskrit time period ‘Praan‘ is derived from the prefix ‘Pra‘ means ‘brings forth‘ and root ‘an’ means ‘motion‘. Prana means the power “which brings forth the motion”. And Prana Shakti is all in regards to the manifestation which Prana brings; like life, matter, ideas, and many others. It’s the transformative power that converts vitality into matter and matter into vitality.
The power which makes us in a position to breathe, offers us a capability to assume, lets us transfer physique limbs freely is the power of Prana. Furthermore, each different motion that’s taking place in all of the objects of this universe is the power of Prana. This is the reason Prana known as the common power that sums up the entire of all forces within the universe.
To grasp the which means of prana, Swami Vivekananda explains Prana superbly in his work. In response to him;
At first of creation, there’s solely this Akasha (area). However by the facility of Prana, Akasha (area) manufactured into this universe.
Swami Vivekananda
Supply of Prana
The three predominant sources of prana are the solar, earth, and cosmos. Prana from these sources known as common prana and we get it in several varieties like meals, air, water, and daylight. Nevertheless, it’s stated, holy locations, expertise, contemplation on the supreme self additionally improve the Prana stage of the physique.
Whether or not you’re looking via eyes, respiratory via the nostril, sensing via the pores and skin, or ready to think about an occasion – Prana is working behind each refined mechanism of the physique.
In response to Hindu philosophy, in our physique, Prana is claimed to the companion of Atman, the soul. Prana lies with the soul on the coronary heart heart. The soul is the silent experiencer that perceives the bodily world via the working of Prana; it enters and leaves the physique with the Prana.
Earlier than the bodily physique or thoughts begins to develop in an embryo within the mom’s womb, firstly soul comes into it and with the soul, Prana comes. Then pranic power (prana-shakti) combines the 5 components to create the thoughts, senses, and the physique. On this method, prana is superior to the physique & thoughts, and getting management of Prana offers one management over the thoughts as nicely.
Additionally Learn: Panch Tatva: 5 Parts of Physique
As talked about in a examine from “Institute for Consciousness Analysis, researchers stated;
Our thoughts is ready to assume, focus, meditate, recite a mantra, or soften in devotion solely with the assistance of ‘prana-shakti’, in the identical method because the Energy to create the universe resting in Shiva is solely the result of his Shakti.
How Prana Flows?
Our physique is a posh system of organs and with a view to make certain its correct functioning, the fixed move of prana is essential.
Prana flows within the physique via refined vitality channels which in yogic terminology known as the Nadis. The Nadis system is pervaded in the complete physique in such a method that every one the minor Nadis are linked from the three predominant Nadis Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna. These 3 predominant nadis lies within the refined physique alongside the spinal twine.
Additionally Learn: The Three Most important Nadis: Ida, Pingala, Sushumna
The place Ida and Pingala Nadi crisscross one another, at these factors it meets with Sushumna Nadi, the central vitality channel. And this fashion, this level of cross-section varieties vitality facilities i.e. 7 chakras.
When Prana flows via Nadis, then it’s the work of Chakras to distribute it to different minor Nadis which might be unfold over the entire physique. As quickly as a chakra is totally crammed up with Prana, it begins directing prana shakti in all potential instructions by revolving on its axis. It’s known as a balanced chakra when Prana is flowing via it in a balanced method.
Prana flows within the type of Vayus
Yogis when noticed the capabilities, depth, and path of flowing Prana within the Nadis, they discovered within the totally different area of the physique, Prana act in a different way. It’s not the identical all through the complete physique. For instance, in some areas, the path of move of Prana is upward (in chest, throat) whereas in different areas, it strikes downwards.
With a purpose to perceive Prana extra precisely, yogis divided Prana into 5 vayus.
What are Vayus?
The motion or the move of prana known as the Vayu. Vayu actually interprets as ‘Wind’. Just like the wind is a power behind shifting objects, Prana takes motion within the physique within the type of Vayu.
Based mostly on the move of Prana in a specific area of the physique, Prana could be divided into 5 vayus named Prana Vayu, Apana Vayu, Samana Vayu, Udana Vayu, and Vyana Vayu. These 5 are the key division of ‘Prana’ combinedly known as the Pancha Pranas.
1. Prana Vayu
The primary and most essential sort of Prana is prana vayu (To tell apart Prana from prana vayu, Prana known as Mahaprana). The move of this vayu typically occurs inwardly and upward path.
On the bodily stage, prana vayu is accountable for the working of the respiratory system together with the pumping of the guts, major inhalation-exhalation course of. Aside from this, it additionally helps in swallowing and regurgitation meals. It balances some physiological & psychological actions like eye-concentration, feelings & psychological consistency.
The guts chakra is claimed the primary seat of this vayu. Due to this fact imbalance within the amount or a blockage in prana vayu can result in despair, low-feeling & heart-related issues.
Additionally learn: Prana mudra to steadiness prana vayu
Poses To Stability Prana Vayu
To steadiness the prana vayu one can follow the Asana through which the chest area is concerned majorly. Some examples of asana to steadiness prana vayu, are standing Cobra, bridge pose, bow pose & camel pose.
2. Apana Vayu
Apana Vayu flows in the wrong way of prana vayu, i.e., within the downward path. Usually, pranayama is aimed to redirect Apana Vayu to the upper vitality centres and prohibit its pointless move out of the physique. Its location is in Muladhara Chakra.
The principle perform of Apana Vayu is the elimination of waste as feces, fuel, and urine. On the time of childbirth, Apana Vayu helps to create a easy passageway for supply. Aside from this, Apana Vayu can be accountable for sexual stimulation, ejaculation & month-to-month menstrual cycle for girls.
Main working space of apana vayu is core of the pelvic ground and it regulates the organs that lies in between navel to the perineum like urinary system, reproductive system, kidneys & the massive gut. An imbalance in Apana vayu can result in diabetes, abdomen associated issues from poor elimination to laziness, tiredness, itching, despair and negativity.
Additionally learn: Apana vayu mudra for coronary heart
Poses To Stability Apana Vayu
To steadiness apana vayu, one ought to deal with the poses which domesticate consciousness close to the basis chakra, For instance – Tree Pose, Sure Angle Pose, Locust Pose, and many others.
3. Samana Vayu
Samana means ‘equal’ (Equal within the sense of ‘Balancing’). It occupied between the working areas of prana & Apana Vayu. It hasn’t any motion in an upward or downward path, nevertheless it works solely within the navel area. Samana vayu focuses on the ‘hearth ingredient’ of the physique and therefore, stimulates Manipura Chakra.
It’s accountable for vitality utilized within the digestion course of and dealing of digestive organs just like the abdomen, liver, giant gut. Samana vayu is each heating and cooling in nature which regulates the digestion course of.
An imbalance of Samana Vayu can disturb the urge for food of an individual which brings weak spot within the physique. Furthermore, it impacts metabolism deficiency within the physique.
Additionally learn: Samana mudra for digestion
Poses To Stability Samana Vayu
Poses that creates extension or contraction within the navel area are good to steadiness the samana vayu. For instance, Boat pose, Seated ahead bend pose, and many others.
4. Udana Vayu
Udana means ‘Fly’ (fly in sense motion). With the assistance of Udana Vayu solely, you may transfer the totally different organs of the physique.
For instance – Transferring or rolling the hand via the shoulder, rounding the pinnacle & kicking via legs. All these potential due to Udana Vayu. This important vitality lies within the vishuddha chakra (Throat) and limbs above it.
On the bodily stage, Udana Vayu coordinates the neurons of the motor & sensory nervous system. This coordination helps within the correct motion of various organs of the physique. Aside from this, controlling the 5 bodily senses are additionally dealt with by Udana Vayu.
Udana Vayu works within the different-different areas of the physique. It resides between neck to go half, shoulder to fingertips (fingers) & hips to the toe ideas (legs). The deficiency of Udana Vayu could make an individual paralyzed. Senses of the physique received’t work accurately & it may possibly result in imaginative and prescient issues and deafness.
Additionally learn: Udana mudra to steadiness udana vayu
Poses To Stability Udana Vayu
Poses that brings consciousness to the shoulder and head area are greatest to steadiness the udana vayu within the physique, For Instance, Bridge Pose, Shoulder Stand, Plow Pose, Fish Pose, and many others.
5. Vyana Vayu
Vyana is the fifth and most built-in sort of prana. The principle perform of vyana vayu is to facilitate reserve power into the poor space of different pranas. It offers crucial vitamins to wanted organs by way of blood move.
Not like the opposite 4 pranas, vyana vayu has no particular space working space within the physique because it travels throughout the entire physique & thoughts via the circulatory system.
An imbalance in Vyana vayu can result in lack of coordination between sensory and motor neurons. It may possibly additional leads to weak muscular actions or tight muscle mass. Additionally, by deficiency of this vayu, the physique begins sweating quite a bit and sudden horripilation by worry turns into a really identified phenomenon.
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Poses To Stability Vyana Vayu
Half-moon Pose and Eagle Pose could be practiced to redirect vyana vayu in a unique a part of the physique.
Upaprana
Other than the 5 main vayus, there are 5 minor pranas additionally, known as Upaprana. 5 upa pranas are Naga, Kurma, Krikala, Devdatta, and Dhananjaya.
At any time when there comes blockages in 5 predominant prana vayus, upa-pranas works to carry that vayu in steadiness. Additionally, it’s accountable for routine actions like eye blinking, yawning, sneezing, or burping, and many others.
- Naga – Releases the fuel that causes blockage in Prana and Apana Vayu within the type of burping, vomit, hiccups, and many others.
- Kurma – This upa-prana controls the eyelid winking and retains eyes moisturize.
- Krikala – It induces sneezing to clear the blockages within the respiratory system.
- Devdatta – This up-prana releases the fuel within the type of Yawning. It balances samana vayu vitality by expelling the fuel after consuming.
- Dhananjaya – It regulates the opening and shutting of the guts valves and controls the fragmentation of a physique after dying.
5 Prana Vayus Chart
| 5 Pranas | Location | Perform | Route of Move | Chakra | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prana Vayu | Chest, Eyebrows centre | Inspiration, swallowing meals | Upward | Coronary heart chakra | Air |
| Apana Vayu | Pelvis | Elimination, outward motion | Downward | Root Chakra | Earth |
| Samana Vayu | Navel | Assimilation | Round inward | Photo voltaic Plexus Chakra | Hearth |
| Udana Vayu | Thorat | Metabolizing, speech, bodily development | Upward | Throat Chakra | Ether |
| Vyana Vayu | Entire physique | Circulation | All path | Sacral Chakra | Water |