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Healthy breathing is the starting point for all breathwork. It’s the simple act of breathing without strain, allowing the breath to flow freely and easily. This is a bit different from the natural, unnoticed breath that we rely on throughout the day. The breath we’re focusing on here is one that we pay attention to and consciously cultivate.
When life feels demanding and the pace picks up, it’s easy to become “firey” or hot-headed. Between busy schedules and the constant flow of tasks, our nervous system can quickly become overwhelmed. One way to cool down—physically, emotionally, and mentally—is through Sitali Pranayama, the cooling breath.
Yoga offers a myriad of ways to explore, deepen, lengthen, or alter the breath. These practices, traditionally known as pranayama, bring unique benefits to the body, mind, and spirit. As the fourth limb among the eight limbs of yoga described in the Yoga Sutras, pranayama serves as a bridge between the external and internal aspects of our being, preparing us for deeper states of awareness. One of the more accessible, calming, and grounding pranayama techniques is Nadi Shodhana, or alternate nostril breathing.
To find steadiness and ease in your yoga practice, the best place to begin is with your breath. The breath acts like a gauge of your practice. When the breath is labored —quick and shallow— this is a sign that you are pushing too hard, or not letting go enough, in...
Pranayama is a vital aspect of yoga practice, bridging the physical postures of asana and the inner stillness of meditation. As the fourth limb of yoga, pranayama follows asana for good reason: asana prepares the body for pranayama. While asana is often associated with movement and strength, pranayama requires stillness and a calm, focused mind.
From an outward perspective, the practice of yoga seems very physical. An often continual progression of movements, yoga is rightly considered to be a physical exercise. But there is one element of the practice that sets it apart from other exercises—the breath. In...
Udana vayu, also known as “ascending air,” is the prana vayu that directs prana from the lower chakras to the upper chakras. This upward-moving energy carries the awakened kundalini—our dormant spiritual energy—through the chakras as it ascends, facilitating a deeper connection to higher consciousness. Udana vayu is primarily located between the heart and the head, where it governs our ability to express ourselves and communicate clearly.
Vyana vayu, often called “omnipresent air,” is the prana vayu that integrates and coordinates the other four vayus—prana, apana, samana, and udana. Unlike the other vayus, which are associated with specific areas of the body, vyana vayu is present throughout the entire body and even extends outward, influencing the energy field or aura surrounding us. Vyana vayu is the glue that holds the other energies together.
If you have been practicing yoga for a while, you are familiar with the relationship between breath and movement. You understand that certain movements correspond to either an in breath or an out breath, each complimenting and facilitating the other. Over time the...
Samana vayu, often called “balancing air,” is the prana vayu that sits at the intersection of prana (the inward/upward-moving energy) and apana (the outward/downward-moving energy). This central force unites the two energies, creating balance in both body and mind. Located at the navel, samana vayu governs agni, the digestive fire, which is the fire of purification. When prana and apana unite within samana, agni burns optimally, supporting the body’s ability to assimilate and process what it receives.
Apana is the prana vayu that governs the downward and outward flow of energy from the body. It is the energy of release, responsible for physical elimination, as well as the release of mental and emotional waste. Apana vayu plays a crucial role in keeping us clear, balanced, and grounded.
The individual prana vayu, not to be confused with the entire category of prana vayus, represents the specific movement of prana, or life force, inward into the body. Prana vayu governs the intake of energy through breath, food, drink, and even through mental and sensory perceptions.