Pranayama means to take charge of the life energies, within the body. Energy flows in many different directions within the body, these flows are known as Vayus. Prana means vital life energy and Yama means to control or take charge.
There are 10 different manifestations of prana yama in the body. To simplify them, we focus mainly on the 5 main vayus or pancha vayus.
By taking charge of the pranayama, we are able to take charge of the overall well being of our body. One who has master pranayama, can control 100% of their psychological body and 90% of their physiological body.
Ida/Intuitive and Pingala/Logical
There are 72,000 nadis -channels or pathway, ways energies are moving within each of our body. There are 36K on the right, which also represents the sun or called ida or the intuitive side of us. The 36K on the left, represents the moon, also called the pingala, represents the logical side of us.
We breath through one side of the nostril. Every 40-48 mins, the breath would shift from right to left or left to right, this is because the energy is shifting between ida and pingala.
Difference between Chakras and Pranas
Chakras and Pranas are different elements of the body. Chakras are dense/compact areas of pranic energy. Prana is the vital life force. Prana is shared by the entire universe.
Prana
Prana flows in many different directions within the body, these flows are known as Vayus. Prana means vital life energy and Yama means to control or take charge. Pranayama means to take charge of the life energies, within the body.
How the human mechanism; your body, mind function, how the whole physiological way your body functions is determined by this energy – the prana.
This energy carries a certain amount of memory, the karmic memory of the person is imprinted on this energy. So, in each person, this prana functions in a different manner. It is unique to each individual.
Vayus
Vayus are the energy forces that moves in a specific directions to control the body functions and activities.
Each Vayu governs a specific area of the body and ideally functions in harmony with each other. Their subtle energetic movements affect and influence our physical, emotional and mental health and wellness. If a Vayu becomes imbalanced it can create disharmony through the whole energetic system of the body or can negatively affect its associate chakra or the organs linked to its location.
The 5 Prana Vayus
The 2 most important vayus to connect with are Prana-Vayu and Apana-Vayu. Once you connect with these vayus, it is easier to work with the other vayus.
1) Prana-Vayu
Prana-Vayu is situated in the heart, and its energy spread through the chest region. Prana-Vayu translates as “forward moving air,” and its flow is inward.
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.
This Vayu’s action is crystallization, its expression is cyclical, and its associated chakras and elements are Heart and air.
This vayu can be weakened by exposure to extremely loud or consistent noise, watching violent television shows or negative news before retiring, listening to angry or sad songs—basically any sensory overload.
When this Vayu is weak, the mind cannot focus and experiences excess worry. Shortness of breath, anxiety, low energy or a poor immune system can be related to disturbed Prana-Vayu.
Physically, this vayu relates to the actions of inhaling, eating, drinking, and swallowing.
Mentally, prana vayu applies to the five senses and what we feed them.
How to Prana-Vayu
- Sit or stand with a straight spine position and relaxed body
- Close your eyes
- As you inhale through your nose, feel the inhalation, an energy flowing into every part of your lungs and mind, filling them with pure, fresh air.
- Keep your attention within the body, enjoying the powerful, re-energizing breath of the inhalation
2) Apana-Vayu
Apana-Vayu is situated in the pelvic floor and its energy pervades the lower abdomen.
Apana-Vayu translates as “the air that moves away,” and its flow is downwards and out or elimination. Everything that goes into our body must go out.
This applies to food, drink, and breath. This vayu is also associated with the female menstrual cycle, the act of giving birth, and male ejaculation. When a woman’s cycle is on schedule and she is able to conceive and give birth, it is said to be a sign that apana vayu is healthy. Being able to eliminate regularly is considered healthy.
Apana vayu applies to the mind’s ability to let go of difficult thoughts and memories, rather than hold on to them. When this is healthy, one can maintain positivity, in all activities. But when this vayu is weak, the mind may be filled with worries.
How to Apana-Vayu
- Sit or stand with a straight spine position and relaxed body
- Close your eyes
- Inhale and feel the positive energy and air going in through your nose, directing this prana downwards towards the spine and all the way down to the legs and feet,
- And as you exhale, feel the energy flowing down, from the top of the head to the spine, and then out through the legs and feet, let any unwanted energies go through your feet and into the ground and earth, feeling healed and grounded.
Its energy nourishes the organs of digestion, reproduction, and elimination. Apana-Vayu governs the elimination of all substances from the body: carbon dioxide, urine, stool, etc. This Vayu’s action is elimination, its expression is steadiness, and its associated chakras and elements are Root/Spine and earth.
A weak or dysfunctional Apana-Vayu creates feelings of ungroundedness and weakness in the legs. Elimination issues or diseases that affect the intestines, kidneys, or urinary tract can be related to disturbed Apana prana.
3) Vyana-Vayu
Vyana-Vayu is situated in the heart and lungs and flows throughout the entire body. Vyana-Vayu translates as “outward moving air,” and its flow moves from the center of the body to the periphery.
It governs the circulation of all substances throughout the body, circulation of food, water and oxygen throughout the body and assists the operation of the other Vayus with their functions. It represents the whole body, the skin, the energy that radiates past the boundary of our skin. Healthy circulation allows nutrients absorption and release of the energy.
This Vayu’s action is circulation, its expression is alignment, and its associated chakras and elements sacral chakra and water.
Mentally, vyana-vayu is related to free flow of ideas and emotions, in a positive and loving manner.
Weak vyana-vayu is related with separation and hatred. A weak Vyana-Vayu can create disjointed, fluctuating and rambling thoughts. Poor circulation, impaired nerve stimulation, skin disorders, and nervous breakdowns can be related to disturbed Vyana-Vayu.
How to Vyana-Vayu
and as you inhale feel the breath radiating outward from the navel to the arms and legs.
- Sit or stand with a straight spine position and relaxed body
- Close your eyes
- Inhale and feel the positive energy and air going in through your nose, directing this prana to every part of the heart
- And as you exhale, feel the energy flowing through the arms and legs, let any unwanted energies move out through every pore in the body.
Working with This Vayu in Asana Poses that activate vyana vayu include:
• To strengthen Vyana-Vayu: Practice pranayama with kumbhaka (breath retention). Focus your asana practice sun salutations to circulate prana and blood.
4) Udana-Vayu
Udana-Vayu is situated in the throat and it has a circular flow around the neck and head.
Udana-Vayu translates to “that which carries upward,” and its flow moves upward from the heart to the head, five senses, and brain. It governs physical growth. represents our bodies and our perspectives.
It functions to “hold us up” and governs speech, self-expression, and growth.
This Vayu’s action is metabolization, its expression is verbal, and its associated chakras and elements are throat and third eye and ether.
When your udana-vayu is weak, one may have a stagnant career or life, inability to speak up and lacks will and enthusiasm, shortness of breath and diseases of the throat. Too much of this udana-vayu would see one with too much pride and arrogance.
How to Udana-Vayu:
- Sit or stand with a straight spine position and relaxed body
- Close your eyes
- Inhale and imagine the breath moving up from the earth to the nose in each inhalation
- And as you exhale, imagine the relaxation of every tensions in your body feel the energy flowing from your legs, soles, spine and all the way to the chest and to the top of the crown of your head.
• To strengthen Udana-Vayu: Practice backbending poses that bring energy to the neck, shoulders, and head. Bringing awareness of Udana-Vayu in any yoga pose creates a focus to maintain a straight spine position and a correct posture.
Backbends—particularly belly backbends
5) Samana-Vayu
Samana-Vayu is situated in the abdomen with its energy is centered in the navel.
Samana-Vayu translates to “the balancing air” and its flow moves from the periphery of the body to the center.
It governs the digestion and assimilation of all substances: food, air, experiences, emotions, and thoughts.
This Vayu’s action is assimilation, its expression is internal, and its associated chakras and elements are solar plexus and fire.
Blocked or weak samana-vayu causes indigestions and feeling of defeat, low confidence and the inability to talk and think through difficult experiences.
How to Samana-Vayu:
- Sit or stand with a straight spine position and relaxed body
- Close your eyes
- Inhale and direct the breath to the center of your torgo and envision the energy being evenly distributed throughout the body
- And as you exhale, imagine the positive movement of the energy within the center of the body and throughout.
Working With This Vayu in Asana Poses that activate samana include:
• Standing, seated, and supine twists
• Forward folds, especially seated
•To strengthen Samana-Vayu: Focus your asana practice on twisting poses and core strenghtening yoga poses. Practice Kapalabhati Pranayama and Agni Sara Kriya. Bringing awareness of Samana-Vayu in any yoga pose creates a focus to open and relax the body.