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What is PRANA? This Sanskrit word often gets translated and simplified to “life force energy” in English. It’s true – prana is life force energy, but what’s that? Our Life Force Energy governs our higher state of consciousness through the coordination of the senses, the mind, and the breath. A little more simply put, life force energy means that if we have it, we’re alive; if we don’t have it, we’re dead. In that contrast, we can clearly see that prana is an important aspect of our life.
Wait, I thought prana = breath? Well, you’re right. That too! So, prana is breath – but prana is not oxygen. Prana is the energy that sustains our entire life and it is carried within the oxygen we breathe.
Wait, I thought prana = breath? Well, you’re right. That too! So, prana is breath – but prana is not oxygen. Prana is the energy that sustains our entire life and it is carried within the oxygen we breathe.
Functions of Prana
- Performs respiration, oxygenation, and circulation
- Governs all motor and sensory functions
- Kindles agni (read about that here)
- Activates natural intelligence of the body
- Governs all higher cerebral activities including functions of the mind, memory, thoughts, and emotions
- Physiological functioning of the heart
- Controls oxygenation in dhatus (tissues) and vital organs (supplies oxygen to entire body)
- Bridge between polarities: lunar and solar, feminine and masculine, positive and negative
- Via the Hypothalamus – sends messages to sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, intercostal muscles, and diaphragm (affects nervous system and respiration muscles)
- Gives life to whole universe and all organisms present on Spaceship Earth
Prana not only encourages and supports all these various functions within our mind-body system; prana functions for every single living organism on the Earth. Our food contains prana, water contains prana, and breath contains prana. The only other fundamental human need beyond those three is sleep. Breath is the primary source of prana and is the vehicle for regulating the flow of prana in the body.
Prana is “Life Force Energy” because it creates and sustains life on all levels, in all five kingdoms, and beyond.
Are you starting to gather a broader perspective of this word, its meaning and its implications in our lives? Prana is responsible for our heartbeat and quality of our breath – if our body isn’t doing either of those two things well, or at all, we suffer serious health consequences, or experience death and find out what happens after that. (Don’t spoil it for the rest of us!)
The word Prana is a placeholder for all of these functions, concepts, and philosophies. As you can see, it becomes difficult to explain that all at once, and it requires deeper understanding of the fundamental philosophies of both Ayurveda and Yoga. Thus, why it ends up getting simplified to “breath” or “life force energy.” This is a broad overview as well. It’s a topic of vast study.
Prana is “Life Force Energy” because it creates and sustains life on all levels, in all five kingdoms, and beyond.
Are you starting to gather a broader perspective of this word, its meaning and its implications in our lives? Prana is responsible for our heartbeat and quality of our breath – if our body isn’t doing either of those two things well, or at all, we suffer serious health consequences, or experience death and find out what happens after that. (Don’t spoil it for the rest of us!)
The word Prana is a placeholder for all of these functions, concepts, and philosophies. As you can see, it becomes difficult to explain that all at once, and it requires deeper understanding of the fundamental philosophies of both Ayurveda and Yoga. Thus, why it ends up getting simplified to “breath” or “life force energy.” This is a broad overview as well. It’s a topic of vast study.
FIn Ashtanga Yoga and Ayurveda, Pranayama is an important healing tool.
Pranayama is conscious alteration of the breathing pattern with mental focus.
Pranayama can be separated in two ways.
Practicing Pranayama brings balance to the body, creates a state of relaxation, directs energy inward and upward within the Chakra system, helps balance doshas, promotes longevity, aids rejuvenation, increases awareness, helps remove ama, and helps in discovery and removal of the causes of disease.
Wow. So, what you’re saying is that through mindful breathing I can improve my physical and mental health, increase my energy and stamina, create a state of peace and relaxation, lengthen the span of my life, live more consciously, and remove toxins that impact my health?
Yes! You got it! All through your breath – which is free, constantly with you, and abundant!
Who knew?
The ancient sages.
Yoga & Ayurveda are sister arts and sciences. They come from the same ancient texts and have been practiced for thousands of years. “Both Ayurveda and Yoga arose from the intuitive observations of the ancient Rishis through meditation, observation of nature and observation of human beings in relation to the natural rhythms of life. Both sciences are aimed toward harmonizing and healing all layers of our existence. Ayurveda provides medical and lifestyle guidance to live in harmony with nature through the use of diet, lifestyle modification, herbal remedies, massage and other treatments. Ayurveda helps us define our unique constitution (prakriti) and current tendencies (vikriti) for the purpose of self-knowledge, self-healing and self-transcendence. Yoga views this harmony as the foundation for spiritual practice. Yoga focuses more on healing from the causal and subtle levels by changing our bodies, minds and spirts to be more in harmony with the universal energy. Both Yoga and Ayurveda share the same purpose: to realize the Self. Each tradition offers its own unique scientific approach to reach this goal. Together, they form a complete and practical working model to restore balance to both body and mind which brings us in alignment with our prakriti and state of health.”
A main link between Ayurveda and Yoga is the practice of Pranayama. There are many types of pranayama, some are heating and stimulating while others are cooling, calming, and grounding. This is based upon how the breathing pattern affects the nervous system response. All pranayamas are good for all dosha types; however, knowing your prakriti (& vikriti) help tailor which practices will be most beneficial and balancing. (Dosha/Prakriti = Vata, Pitta, Kapha or a combination of two, or an even mix of all three)
Pranayama is conscious alteration of the breathing pattern with mental focus.
Pranayama can be separated in two ways.
- pran + ayama: expansion / elongation / extension of life force
- prana + yama: channeling of life force
Practicing Pranayama brings balance to the body, creates a state of relaxation, directs energy inward and upward within the Chakra system, helps balance doshas, promotes longevity, aids rejuvenation, increases awareness, helps remove ama, and helps in discovery and removal of the causes of disease.
Wow. So, what you’re saying is that through mindful breathing I can improve my physical and mental health, increase my energy and stamina, create a state of peace and relaxation, lengthen the span of my life, live more consciously, and remove toxins that impact my health?
Yes! You got it! All through your breath – which is free, constantly with you, and abundant!
Who knew?
The ancient sages.
Yoga & Ayurveda are sister arts and sciences. They come from the same ancient texts and have been practiced for thousands of years. “Both Ayurveda and Yoga arose from the intuitive observations of the ancient Rishis through meditation, observation of nature and observation of human beings in relation to the natural rhythms of life. Both sciences are aimed toward harmonizing and healing all layers of our existence. Ayurveda provides medical and lifestyle guidance to live in harmony with nature through the use of diet, lifestyle modification, herbal remedies, massage and other treatments. Ayurveda helps us define our unique constitution (prakriti) and current tendencies (vikriti) for the purpose of self-knowledge, self-healing and self-transcendence. Yoga views this harmony as the foundation for spiritual practice. Yoga focuses more on healing from the causal and subtle levels by changing our bodies, minds and spirts to be more in harmony with the universal energy. Both Yoga and Ayurveda share the same purpose: to realize the Self. Each tradition offers its own unique scientific approach to reach this goal. Together, they form a complete and practical working model to restore balance to both body and mind which brings us in alignment with our prakriti and state of health.”
A main link between Ayurveda and Yoga is the practice of Pranayama. There are many types of pranayama, some are heating and stimulating while others are cooling, calming, and grounding. This is based upon how the breathing pattern affects the nervous system response. All pranayamas are good for all dosha types; however, knowing your prakriti (& vikriti) help tailor which practices will be most beneficial and balancing. (Dosha/Prakriti = Vata, Pitta, Kapha or a combination of two, or an even mix of all three)
Factors that Influence Our Breath
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There are many factors that influence the quality of our breath. Having awareness around what impacts us gives us power to notice what is helping or what is not helping. First step: Remove what is not helping. Second step: Incorporate more of what is helping.
How do you experience breath?
Through your senses and awareness. By noticing the movement of air in and out of your nostrils, vocal cords, and abdomen. By noticing the release of tension in the face, joints, and muscles.
Why does experiencing my breath matter?
Why should I care about the quality of my breath?
Breath is a direct reflection of our mental state. If we are feeling scared, angry, irritated, or sad the breath is shallow, irregular and rapid. When we are feeling calm, relaxed, or focused the breath is quiet, slow and prolonged. By observing the breath, we gain insight into the state of our internal world.
When we notice that we’re feeling angry, scared, upset, agitated, anxious, overwhelmed, etc. through mindful breathing, we can take calm, full, elongated breaths to transform those emotions into calmness, security, tranquility, peace, serenity, acceptance, love, patience, and compassion.
Breath is an amazing tool. Through knowledge and practice we can learn how to use it to help us feel better, have more focus, remain calm in stressful situations, process difficulties, develop greater understanding of our Self and deepen our connections with others.
How do you experience breath?
Through your senses and awareness. By noticing the movement of air in and out of your nostrils, vocal cords, and abdomen. By noticing the release of tension in the face, joints, and muscles.
Why does experiencing my breath matter?
Why should I care about the quality of my breath?
Breath is a direct reflection of our mental state. If we are feeling scared, angry, irritated, or sad the breath is shallow, irregular and rapid. When we are feeling calm, relaxed, or focused the breath is quiet, slow and prolonged. By observing the breath, we gain insight into the state of our internal world.
When we notice that we’re feeling angry, scared, upset, agitated, anxious, overwhelmed, etc. through mindful breathing, we can take calm, full, elongated breaths to transform those emotions into calmness, security, tranquility, peace, serenity, acceptance, love, patience, and compassion.
Breath is an amazing tool. Through knowledge and practice we can learn how to use it to help us feel better, have more focus, remain calm in stressful situations, process difficulties, develop greater understanding of our Self and deepen our connections with others.
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