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.
Without getting too deep into Hinduism, this old Vedic story simplifies the importance of Prana and why everyone should learn more about it.
“The five main faculties of our nature—the mind, breath (prana), speech, hearing, and sight—were arguing about which was the most important. To resolve the dispute they decided that each would leave the body in turn to see whose absence was missed most. First speech left, yet the body continued to flourish though it was mute. Next the eye departed, yet the body flourished though blind. Then the ear left, yet the body thrived though deaf. Finally the mind left, yet still the body lived on, though it was now unconscious. But the moment the prana started to leave, the body began to die. The other faculties were rapidly losing their life-force, so they all rushed to prana, admitted its supremacy, and begged it to stay.”
The story makes it clear that none of our faculties can function without prana (breath, energy, life force), therefore it makes sense that to control these faculties, one must control the prana. Let’s take a closer look at prana, and how it moves in our lives.
5 Types of Prana
There exists 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 governs the intake of substances including air, food, and water. This is the movement of energy from the head down to the navel (the pranic center of the physical body).
Samana vayu governs digestion of those substances, or the movement of energy from the entire body back to the navel.
Vyana vayu governs the circulation of nutrients, which is the movement of energy out from the navel throughout the entire body.
Udana vayu governs the release of positive energy (speech, effort, enthusiasm, and will) from the navel up to the head. This is our main positive energy that helps us evolve in consciousness.
Apana vayu governs disposal of the waste products produced by the conversion process, which is the movement of energy from the navel down to the root chakra at the base of the spine.
In short, If you think about your day-to-day functioning, you will see that it follows a predictable pattern: you take things in (food, water, information, experiences); then you process them one way or the other; then you absorb the nutrients or knowledge from the processing; you eliminate the stuff that you don’t need; and as a result you grow, both physically and mentally. This is an example of your vayus (currents of prana) at work physiologically, however prana is also at work mentally.
Prana and the Mind
Mental energy (Prana) is derived from food, breath, and the impressions we take in from the external world. Likewise with the governing of physical energy, Prana governs the intake of sensory impressions, samana governs their mental digestion, and vyana governs mental circulation. Apana rules the elimination of toxic ideas and negative emotions. Udana provides positive mental energy, strength, and enthusiasm.
Now you see the importance of prana and the large impact it has in every aspect of our day to day life, but this post is only the tip of the iceberg. Yoga International has a plethora of information on the topic of Pranamaya and so much more.
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