How to Access Prana in Yoga: 5 Functions of Prana in Yoga

Prana refers to the unseen energy force that is the focus of Hindu traditions and Hatha yoga philosophy. In Sanskrit—the ancient Indian language from which the word “yoga” was born—“prana” translates to “vital energy” or “life force.” The Vedas, a collection of revered ancient Hindu texts, teach that yogis must increase and conserve prana through lifestyle choices, balancing it through yoga, meditation, and diet, channeling it through action, and purifying it through spiritual discipline.

According to one of the Vedic texts called the Upanishads, prana is the source of all movement and life in the human body, likened to the blood moving through the bloodstream or energetic impulses running through the central nervous system.

According to the Vedas, when the movement of prana gets stuck in one of the nadis—energetic channels that run throughout the entire body—the chakras, or energy centers of the physical body, can become misaligned. Blocked or imbalanced prana is thought to be the root source of many diseases and common maladies. The Indian practice of Ayurveda, a holistic wellness and health philosophy, centers around tuning into pranic energy.

The concept of prana falls into five categories in modern yoga. According to Light on Yoga—an acclaimed yogic philosophy book by Iyengar yoga founder B.K.S. Iyengar—these pranas are known as Vayus, a Sanskrit word meaning “winds.” Here is how they each function:

1. 1. Prana Vayu (inward-moving air): Prana Vayu, or the “inward moving energy of air,” is a pranic form that moves through the heart region and controls respiration. Its function is to be the fundamental life energy from which existence sustains itself.
2. 2. Apāna Vayu (downward-moving air): Apāna Vayu, or “air or energy that moves away,” is a pranic form that moves through the lower abdomen and controls elimination. Its function is to release waste and energy that is no longer serving the body.
3. 3. Udāna Vayu (ascending air): Udāna Vayu, or “upward moving air,” is energy that dwells in the throat area, transforming the intake of air and food into positive energy and the will to live. Its function is to transmute energy into something beneficial for the living body.
4. 4. Samāna Vayu (balancing air): Samāna Vayu, or “balancing air,” aids in the digestion of food, air, and emotional experience. Its function is to help each person break down what they ingest or experience to process it healthily.
5. 5. Vyana Vayu (omnipresent air): Vyana Vayu, or “outward moving air,” moves through the entire body, distributing energy and governing circulation. Its function is to keep the energy flowing throughout the body, giving you the strength to persist through the challenges of daily life.

There are many ways to help you tune into prana during your yogic practice:

• Do breathwork (Pranayama). You can experience the flow of prana through the practice of Pranayama, or breathwork, and through gaining awareness through a sensitivity in the senses. Breathing exercises, like breath control and the deepening and elongating of the breath, are examples of Pranayama techniques that you can employ to tap into the feeling of prana.
• Practice Kundalini yoga. The main objective of practicing asanas, or yoga poses, is to control and bring stillness to the mind. The mind and prana work in tandem: the balance or imbalance of one affects the other. Yogis can feel subtle shifts in their energetic bodies with years of yoga practice. Experts recommend practicing Kundalini yoga to awaken this energy awareness quickly and effectively.
• Eat life-giving foods. Ayurvedic practitioners and traditional yogis believe that a plant-based diet rich in whole foods that come directly from the earth can help you feel prana. Conversely, a diet high in processed foods can block the ability to sense and experience pranic energy.
• Engage in meditative practices. You can experience the vital force of prana through meditation, visualization, using affirmations, and practicing mudras with your hands. These powerful practices can help redirect negative thoughts, free up stagnant energy in the mind, and restore harmonic balance to the physical body.
• Connect with nature. Pranic energy flows through all of the earth’s natural systems: Ocean air, the freshwater of a river, and the powerful presence of a forest of redwoods are all rich in palpable pranic energy. Immersing yourself in nature can help you become more sensitive to prana and connect you with the world’s natural elements.

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