Prana Vayu

                                                             (Breath of life/ Life Force/ Our body fuel)

What is Prana? Prana with the capital P - life force, animation principle ( जीवन्तता/चंचलता, सजीवता,), without prana there is no life. Originates outside the body. Gives vitality and strength. Provides the link between the physical body and the energetic bodies / astral body. When this link is lost death results. Associated with sun, all pervading exist in both macrocosm and microcosm. The same energy from the same force, but manifest in different forms.

More about Prana : That which is / goes everywhere, in the beings, in earth and rocks. Flows through the channels nadis, whose gateway is the nostrils. Two main channels in yoga : left nostril ida nadi, and right nostril Pingala nadi. Central channel is Sushumna.

"Everything rest in prana". The reading build an image of prana as burning like fire, and blowing like wind, having form and yet no form and states. "Prana is immortality".

Introduction

Prana, as we all know, is the vital energy force, which keeps us alive; and breath is the medium through which Prana moves. In Pranic body, there are 72,000 subtle invisible energy channels called Nadis, through which Prana flows.

Energy Channels

If we wish to live a healthy and happy life, we need to take care of Prana- our body fuel. While we seem to always think of increasing our bank balances to become wealthy, we never seem to think of increasing our Prana and become healthy!

“Health is indeed our real wealth”. We will never be able to enjoy our life at the fullest if we are suffering mentally or physically.

Prana conserved is Prana earned

In simple terms, Prana is energy. Sometimes we feel high in energy and at other times low. Observe a small child; she/he is always active and full of energy, even at the end of the day. However, we adults get tired as the day ends.

A child is never worried about past or future; they enjoy their present and live in the moment.

Worry, overthinking and negative emotions deplete our energy. Worry is really the misuse of our imagination. Mental stress is more exhausting than the physical one. We not only need to enhance Prana in our body, but conserve it as well. Money saved is money earned; similarly Prana conserved is Prana earned.

Prana is everywhere in the universe, but most of the times we are unable to absorb it from all the five elements namely- Fire, Air, Space, Earth, Water. However, all yogic practices like Pranayama, Yoga Asanas, Meditation, Prayers, etc. will help us absorb more Prana.

The functioning of Prana

To understand Human body, modern science looks into the anatomy and physiology. But if you are into yoga, then you need to understand the yogic anatomy by understanding the Subtle (Sukshma) bodies; and one of them is the Pranic body.

By understanding different directions of flow of Prana in our system, we will come to know if there are any issues with either intake, processing, elimination, distribution or growth. For example, if you have any stomach issues, chest infection, you will know which Prana to work upon.

Once Prana enters our system, it is divided into five main categories; having different names depending upon its functions and location. It is just like an organization; with specific departments taking care of specific responsibilities, while the organization functions as a whole.

Each Prana works on a specific area and ideally functions in harmony with the others. Imbalance in any one Prana will affect the functioning of others too.

Wind is the force behind most non living movements in nature. Prana is also called Vayu (wind, air) because like the wind, Vayu is responsible for the movement of Prana in our body.

Let’s look at these five types of Vayu in our bodies.

1.Prana Vayu- Governs heart and lung functions

Prana Vayu is the first and most fundamental of all five Vayus. Prana Vayu is like the main chef of a restaurant, who is in charge of getting in all the raw material required for cooking. As our body constantly utilizes energy for various activities, it becomes essential to stock it up by drawing in energy from outside the body i.e. from the five elements.

Prana Vayu is responsible for taking in things like food, water, air. It is also associated with the sensory system, which takes in stimuli from everything we see, hear, smell, touch or feel. It draws in energy from people around as well.

Prana Vayu at the mental level

At mental level, it is responsible for intake of knowledge, impressions, ideas, emotions and thoughts. All these are different ways of taking in information.

Therefore, Prana Vayu provides the basic stimulus or energy, which drives us in life from our personal creativity to our productivity at work place, relationship with oneself and others.
The role of Prana Vayu is not only to take in things, but also to obtain energy from them and supply it into our system; which is required for nourishing our body and sustaining life.
It is located in the chest and heart region and is responsible for respiratory and cardiovascular system as well as inhalation. During inhalation, we draw air inwards and our lungs gets filled up with air, which gives it an upward lift. This is why it is said that it has inward and upward movement towards the head.

If we talk in scientific terms, Medulla oblongata, which connects brain to the spinal cord, is responsible for managing heart, breathing and circulation which according to Ayurveda is governed by Pran Vayu.

Pranayama and Yoga improve Prana

When you are stressed and go out into nature for a walk, you must have noticed that it helps in calming the mind. This is because any physical activity stimulates the breathing mechanism.

As explained, Prana Vayu is directly related to respiration. So practicing Pranayama regularly will be very helpful to increase the flow of Prana in our system.

A strong Pran Vayu means you are physically and mentally strong, stable and can easily do multitasking. You are receptive and willing to take in food, information, ideas knowledge. Imbalance in this can lead to depression, low feeling, anxiety and chest issues like, cold, bronchitis, asthma or heart related issues.

Some Yoga tips

All chest-opening poses like bow pose, camel pose, cobra, bridge pose and all back bends will activate and stimulate Prana -Vayu. Simply raising your hands up and down will also work.

                                                   

Apply Prana -Vayu Mudra to enhance the flow of Prana. Don’t hunch and sit like a cashew, Instead, sit erect. 

Deep Breathing : This gives more room to your lungs to irrigate well with Prana. 

Deep Breathing / Diaphragmatic Breathing

Pouring oil on the head (Shirodhara), will help in calming the mind.

Shiro Dhara

Samana Vayu – Governs Digestion & Metabolism

Once intake is over by Prana Vayu, then it is time for processing it. We can compare Samana Vayu with the process of cooking, which involves heating, proper mixing of raw material, spices, salt, processing and discarding the waste.

It is located in the abdominal region, in between Prana Vayu (above samana) and Apana vayu (below Samana). It flows inwards from the periphery, towards the centre of the abdomen; and is most concentrated at the navel, moving in a spiral pattern.

The word Samana means being same or equal. This Vayu is responsible for balancing and regulating things. The natural pause between the inhalation and exhalation is Samana. It tries to balance the flow of Prana (inhalation) and Apana (exhalation) during the pause. It can also be understood like the fulcrum of a seesaw, which trying to balance Prana at one end and Apana at the other; thus trying to equalize it.

Samana Vayu – Balancing inflows and outflows

Samana is mainly responsible for digestion of food and processing it. It stimulates our gastric glands which strokes our digestive fire and enhances our metabolic process. It churns our food just like a mixer and separates digestible and indigestible food. Indigested food is passed on to the large intestine, which is then thrown out with the help of Apana Vayu.

At the mind level, it is responsible for processing of thoughts, emotions and experiences. In a fast-paced life, we keep on switching from one activity to another. If something important happens, we hardly have time to process it.

Therefore, the emotions keep piling up and we get a feeling of “too much”. We need to give ourselves time and space; so that whatever goes into our body – in the form of food, thought, emotion or experience, first gets processed, in order to get absorbed into our blood stream or mind.
A strong Samana helps in absorbing and retaining what we need and releases what is not required; in an even balance, whether its food or any learning from the experience and thus moving forward in life.

If we talk in scientific terms, we can relate Samana to the Enteric nervous system (ENS). Its nickname is   “second brain”, commonly known as the “Gut” feeling.

Whenever we go with our gut feeling, or experience butterflies in our stomach, it is probably due to the hidden second brain present in the digestive walls. Samana is responsible for contraction and relaxation of visceral/ smooth muscles; part of the ENS present in the stomach, intestines, blood vessels; which helps the food to move smoothly along the digestive tract and maintains blood circulation as well.

When the gut health is not good, you will always feel lethargic; both at the mental and physical levels.

How Emotions impact the body

According to ancient wisdom, emotions have a direct impact on our body, mainly the abdominal region, digestion and the lower back consisting of five vertebrae (L1 – L5).
Though it is a bit hard to believe but any kind of psychological stress like anxiety, fear, depression can trigger lower back pain. When you are stressed or anxious, chemical and physical reactions takes place in your body; and there is involuntary tightening of muscles especially in neck, shoulder and lower back region. Prolonged tension can lead to back pain, especially lower back. A tension-induced pain can be treated at home.
Any imbalance in Samana will show up in the body in the form of indigestion, bloating, slow metabolism, obesity and malnourishment.
At the mental level, there will not be clarity of thoughts and you will find it difficult to digest feelings, emotions or experience.

Some Yoga tips for Samana Vayu

We need to focus on asanas and exercises that focus not only on the core, but on the lower back as well; like forward bends and twists (in sitting, standing or lying down position). This will help strengthen the flow of Prana and Apana towards the navel.

As Samana is a balancing breath, all balancing poses like the tree pose will help improve the balance. Deep long inhalation and exhalation of equal count (ratio) involving the diaphragm and pranayama like Surya Bhedan, Pranayama : Breathing from right nostril or  lying down on left side.

 Samana Mudra 

                                                          

Kriyas like Kapalbhati will also help.

Kapal Bhati

Before going to bed at night, applying mustard or coconut oil or ghee (clarified butter) on the navel and massaging in circular motion will calm your mind, enhances digestive abilities, make your skin glow, good for the eyes too.

Life Force- Prana Current

Flow of cellular intelligence

Prana is centered in the brain and moves downwards towards lungs and heart. It governs all higher sensory functions : sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. Prana also governs swallowing, inspiration, the intellect and conciousness. In short  Prana brings the energy neccessary for those vital functions down into the body.

Prana-Vayu translates as “forward moving air,” and its flow is inwards and upward. It nourishes the brain and the eyes and governs the reception of all things: food, air, senses, and thoughts. This Vayu is the fundamental energy in the body and directs and feeds into the four other Vayus.

Prana enters the body through vehicle of breath. However there are movements of prana within the body they are called VAYUS meaning vital air or life energies. In several Upanishad Vayu is referred to as the deity of the wind, the god of the air. They are said to govern the natural elements. In the Ramayana in which the Bhagwat Geeta forms the part Hanuman was the son of vayu, the air god, and could thus leap across the expense  of water separating India from Shri Lanka.

• What enters the body is called the PRANA
• What leaves is called APANA. Too much Apana can prevent Prana from entering so they must be in a state of balance to be effective.
• The practice of  YOGA  aim to reduce these impurities. 
• We have to reduce the Apana, so that we can bring more Prana into the body. 
• We can do this simply through PRANAYAMA. When we inhale we drew in prana from outside the physical body.
• During the inhalation Prana meets Apana.
• When we exhale the Apana within the body moves towards the Prana.
• Pranayama is the movement of the Prana toward the Apana and the movement of Apana towards Prana.

Generally, the Prana Vayu operates between the pit of the throat and the navel. Most of the practices which we refer to as Pranayama and most of the Asanas, which also involves an element of breathing are all aimed towards Prana Vayu.

Prana and the breath

• Prana issue out of mouth and the nostrils, resides in the eyes and the ears. In other words, it manifest in the breath and animates the sense organs. However it is NOT the breath itself. The confusion arises because we need the breath to survive and we can manipulate the prana through pranayama.
• Prana enters the body in a moment when there is a positive change in the mind, occurring over a long period of time. It does not simply flow into us when we inhale.
• We cannot acquire more prana from the outside by breathing it in. For example when allowed to flow correctly than we have conditions for optimum functioning.
• Breath  is an expression of Prana.

5 Inner Vayus

Inner  Vayus of the Body

• Prana vayu operates from the heart area, and is an upward flowing energy, having to do with vitalizing life force.
• Apana Vayu operates from the base of the torso, in the rectum area, is a downward flowing energy, and has to do with eliminating or throwing off  what is no longer needed.
• Samana Vayu operates from the navel area deals with digestion, and allows the mental discrimination between useful and not useful thoughts.
• Udana Vayu operated from the throat and drives exhalation, operating in conjunction with Prana vayu, which deals with inhalation.
• Vyana Vayu operates throughout the whole body, having no particular center and is a coordinating energy throughout the various systems.

5 Outer Vayus

Outer Vayus of the Body

Our body is comprised of internal energy eco-system, which cannot be seen with the eyes or examined with any medical equipment. Totally there are 49 distinct prana vayus or types of vayus in the body and : Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana and Vyana.

Let’s look at 5 more prana vayus, which are grosser and more limited manifestation of energy in the body, but they are still important for a yogi to recognize in own body. The Gheranda Samhita qualifies the difference between the first five vayus and the next five by calling them 'inner vayus' and 'outer vayus'.

These 5 pranas act as assistants to the first five and are also called as Upa-pranas. Upa-pranas are responsible for different functions of the air, which usually create sounds or visible actions within our body.

These 5 upa-pranas are: Naga, Kurma, Krikala, Devadatta and Dhananjaya.

• Naga Vayu is responsible for air circulation: belching, hiccups, flatulence, etc.
• Kurma Vayu is connected with eyesight and regulates blinking and size of the iris.
• Krikala Vayu assists in clearing blockages from respiratory system, like sneezing and coughing.
• Devadatta Vayu is responsible in releasing stale air from the stomach and increasing the level of oxygen in the body through yawning.
• Dhananjaya Vayu is spread throughout the body and it is the only vayu, which lingers in the body after death triggering decomposition of the corpse.
  

Kurma Vayu

To know why do we do palming of the eyes in the end of each yoga class. You  rub your hands together and place your palms on the eyes. Who knew that such a simple action can have a great impact on your internal pranic system and the state of your mind altogether.
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Kurma Vayu works on the nerves related to the eyes and brain.
It controls opening and closing of the eyelids and causes blinking to keep the eyes healthy, lubricated, clean and protected from dust and foreign objects.
It also regulates the intensity of light going into the eyes by controlling the size of the iris. Disturbance of this Upa-Prana causes uncontrolled blinking and twitching of the eyelids. To strengthen your Kurma Vayu perform tratak त्राटक का अर्थ है टकटकी (candle flame gazing without blinking), practice forward bend asanas and remember to practice palming of the eyes mentioned above. Kurma Vayu is also revitalized during sleep hours.

This field of energy is deeply connected with the brain. Any movement in the brain is instantly reflected in the eyes. Kurma Vayu flows through Kurma Nadi, which is located in the chest below the throat. By doing certain yogic practices on this energy path, one can achieve complete steadiness of the body and mind, and during meditation it makes concentration firm, deep and focused.
On a physical level steadiness of the body also provides balance. Did you ever try doing a balancing posture with your eyes closed? And we all know balance in your yoga practice will benefit balancing your life off the mat.
By tranquillizing the eyes through control of Kurma Vayu, a yogi can still thoughts and make brain immobile. That’s why if you see a true sage, first thing you will notice is the eyes: bright, shining, lustrous, magnificent as eyes are manifestation of the state of the mind, powered by the energy of Kurma Vayu.

Devadatta Vayu

Devadatta Vayu function is to tranquilize body and mind and release stored energy. It separates the body from its subtle form and induces sleep. This energy causes crying and laughing in order to release pent-up emotions.

It is the vital air, which causes expulsion of gases, which may cause body damage and provides intake of extra oxygen into a tired body by producing a yawn.

Thus Devadatta Vayu is naturally associated with sloth and tiredness. It starts functioning automatically when the body or mind is in tired or bored state. By controlling Devadatta Vayu through practice a yogi can overcome sleep, lethargy and fatigue, gain control over hunger and thirst and sweet secretions start flowing in the mouth.

It also regulates hunger and thirst in such a way to relax the body and mind to enter deep meditation.

Devadatta Vayu is also the one, which separates the physical body from the astral body at death.

Naga Vayu

What causes belching (burping) in your body?
When the element of air is disturbed by unhealthy diet or problems in digestion, Naga Vayu comes into action and tries to cause vibrations and remove blockages of Prana and Apana, throwing agitated air out of the stomach and preventing further formation of gas in digestive system.
Extra gas is forced out of the stomach through the esophagus (food pipe, which connects throat and the stomach) out of the mouth as a burp. In most of the countries belching is considered to be impolite but constant suppression of this air function can lead to cardiac arrhythmia. The same way Naga Vayu expels air from the colon through rectum and anus.

Naga Vayu also helps to dissolve blockages of Samana Prana due to indigestion by triggering of the vomit reflex.
Some other functions of Naga include salivation and hiccupping.
Naga Vayu controls all the muscles right from the skeletal to the cardiac muscles and it is connected with actions expanding or accelerating the body, like jumping, throwing, stretching.
Naga Vayu gives rise to consciousness. Naga is also responsible for the ability to concentrate all your internal resources towards one goal.
In a state of meditation Naga Vayu does not function.

Dhananjaya Vayu

Dhananjaya is the last of the 5 upa-vayus and it influences the whole body and is related to the organ of touch and is associated with beauty of the body. It affects the work of muscles, veins, arteries and the skin.
Swelling caused by injury is the action of Dhananjaya Vayu. Twitching of the muscles is caused by Dhananjaya. It also produces phlegm, nitrifies the cells and causes the growth of fat cells.
It resides in the area of the heart and in turn affects the muscles of the heart by opening and closing the heart valves. Serious disturbance of Dhananjaya Vayu can lead to Cardiac Arrhythmia and even Heart Attack.
During a tamasic state Dhananjaya Vayu reinforces sloth in the body. Dhananjaya is concerned with coma, swooning and trance. And it is the only vayu, which doesn’t leave the body even after death. It causes decomposition and at times bloats up a corpse or causes sudden limb movements or sounds in the dead body. Due to the same energy flow, shining appearance and no decay of the body of a yogi after death is on account of mastering Dhananjaya Vayu.

Kirkala Vayu

Kirkala Vayu is responsible for spasmodic movements in the body, sneezing, coughing, reactions to pain and it controls thirst and hunger.

Coughing assists to clear energy blockages of Prana Vayu field-respiratory system, chest and throat. Sneezing ensures free circulation of Udana Vayu. Blockages in head and neck, sinuses can have a negative effect on vertebrae in cervical spine, thus it is highly recommended not to suppress a sneeze. In fact a simple act of sneezing can help to relieve a headache if it was cause by interruption of the air flow.

Kirkala Vayu aids in respiration. It also becomes activated by sharp or irritating smells and causes pain in the nostrils in more intense conditions.

In its subtle state, through a lot of practice, Kirkala enables a yogi to experience divine smells.

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