Understanding Prāṇa
It is said, when we exit the womb, Prāṇa enters the body and when we breathe out our last breath, Prāṇa exits the body. The space between these breaths is life, a movement and exchange of Prāṇa.
The energetic body, as known and presented by yoga philosophy and understanding is the network which allows about body and mind to communicate. The energetic body (prāṇamaya kośa), is a realm in which we can explore the most subtle and profound experiences of Self-realization and spiritual growth. While the energetic body can not be directed from our mind and studied in the same way our physical and mental bodies can be studied, it can be directly felt. We can have direct experiences of the energetic body and through sensing of our inner realm, we can learn and directly connect with the individual qualities of our complete energetic system.
The Energetic Body pervades the entire physical body and works as a complete system to support, influence and impact our complete physical form: organs, tissue, bones and all of our body’s systems.
Within this system of the energetic body, there are five main regions in which the energy functions in unique and individual ways. These are called the five prāṇas – the five energies and they are each a singular component of the whole energetic body.
The Five Prāṇas
- Prāṇa serves different functions in different areas of the body
- Yoga practices balance and facilitate good health throughout the entire body
- Different types:
- Uḍāna – head, arms and legs
- (Stula) Prāṇa – chest
- Samāna – upper abdomen
- Apāna – lower abdomen and pelvis
- Vyāna – whole body, reserve supply to ‘fill up’ the others
Sthūla Prāṇa
On a physical level, this energy supports and moves in the following ways:
- Refers to energy currents located in the thoracic region, between the diaphragm and the base of the neck
- A center of circulation of life energy
- This force maintains the heart and lungs and all activities including: breathing, swallowing, and circulation of blood
- Sthūla prāṇa increases when the heartbeat increases
- Of the five Prāṇas it is the most crucial, and governs all the rest
- When the sthūla prāṇa is strong, the heart is healthy and blood pressure is regulated
On a subtle level, this energy supports and moves in the following ways:
- Responsible for the intake of impressions and ideas
- Energized all of the kośas and is active all the time
- Pervades the region between the Anāhata and vishuddhi
- When the sthūla prāṇa is strong, and flowing without any blockages, strength, courage and greatness are expressed
- This energy is how we experience one-pointedness and intuitive knowledge
- Holds the intuitive knowledge of our soul that resides in our heart
- When meditating on the heart center, the experience of sthūla prāṇa is the strongest
Apāna
On a physical level, this energy supports and moves in the following ways:
- Operates the pelvic region between naval and perineum
- Sustains functions of the kidneys, bladder, bowels, excretory and reproductive organs
- Responsible for the expulsion of gas, wind, feces, urine, semen and ovaNourishes the fetus and is responsible for birth
- Apāna is felt as a heavy force and is connected to the earth and water elements
On a subtle level, this energy supports and moves in the following ways:
- Brings energy down through the kośas
- Svādhiṣṭhāna and mūladhara cakras are contained within apāna
- The kundalini force lies within the edges of apāna
- Assists in the awakening of kundalini, while sthūla prāṇa carries it upward
- Control of apāna is also control of sexual instinct and the instillment of brahmacarya
- Apāna removes negative thoughts and emotions
Samāna
On a physical level, this energy supports and moves in the following ways:
- Operates between the naval and the diaphragm
- Derived from the root ‘sama’ meaning ‘equal’ or ‘balanced’
- Balances and equalizes the forces of Prāṇa and apāna
- Activates and maintains the digestive organs and their secretions and regulates metabolism
- Responsible for the maṇipūra cakra experience of vitality and dynamism
- All major organs of digestion reside within samāna: liver, stomach, duodenum, spleen, and the small and large intestines
Supplies the body with healthy nourishment and life support - A single force that drives many different bodily functions within this region
On a subtle level, this energy supports and moves in the following ways:
- Maintains cohesion and balance between kośas
- Subtler than sthūla prāṇa, and apāna
- Responsible for digesting the mind-stuff
Uḍāna
On a physical level, this energy supports and moves in the following ways:
- Operates in the extremities: the arms, legs, neck and head
- Responsible for sensory organs and the organs of action
- Coordinates and controls the movements of the legs, arms and neck and directs the activities of the brain and sensory organs located in the head: eyes & vision, ears & hearing, tongue & tasting, nose & smelling, and tactile sensations
- Organs of action controlled by Uḍāna are: hands, feet and speech. Excratory and reproductive are controlled by apāna.
- Assists sthūla prāṇa in inhalation and exhalation, intake of food and drink, vomiting, spitting and swallowing
- Guides all actions of the throat and mouth
- Influence begins from the region of viśuddhī cakra
- Maintains the pranic link between the heart and the brain
- This force keeps the body upright and is responsible for anti-gravitational activities (lifting arms, legs, jumping, etc.)
Vyāna
On a physical level, this energy supports and moves in the following ways:
- Helps with all other prāṇas when they need a boost
- Can be experienced as the ‘second wind’
- Regulates and coordinates all the muscular movements
- Aids in sending impulses to different parts of the body
- Causes the flow of sweat and goosebumpsIs an accessory to all the other prāṇas and causes them to function
On a subtle level, this energy supports and moves in the following ways:
- Brings about circulation through all the kośas and is responsible for their differentiation
- Pervades the spatial element in the bodyIs the vehicle of consciousness through the body
- When excited can cause the mind to get excited and deluded, day-dreamy