Looking Into Our Life Force: Prana
The greatest mystery of life is the that fact that we are alive. We move, breathe, feel and act; but what is behind it all? In yoga, the force that keeps living things living is called prana: the life force. Anything that is born, lives and dies is animated by prana. If we want to live a healthy life with longevity and quality of life, we must become more aware of prana.
In Sanskrit, prana means ‘that which moves’. Prana is always in a state of movement and at its essence, movement is vibration. All things that live are in a state of movement, vibration and flow. It’s precisely this movement and flow that caused the yogis to create the practice we call yoga; and yoga is the practice of playing with the flow of our personal prana.
Depending on the way prana flows and how much prana we have, we are capable or incapable of doing certain things. If we have low prana or blocked prana, we will be low on available energy and often be tired or weak. If our prana does not flow properly, we might get the same effects as well as illnesses caused by blocked prana.
If we have vibrant, available prana, we will have enthusiasm for life and energy to live it. If our prana is in a state of balanced flow, we will be healthy and be able to ‘flow with life’. Fundamentally, yoga is the practice of encouraging a healthy flow of prana as well as building up our personal stockpile of energy. One of the best ways to gather prana and create flow is to practice Hatha yoga, which is postures (asana), breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation (dharana).
Our physical practice builds strength in the body which builds up our pranic power and helps us to flow. The breath practice directly works with prana through the practice of pranayama, which means ‘the expansion of prana’. Meditation gathers mental prana and directs the mental energy in a healthy way.
Yoga is very much based on awareness and in this case, it’s the awareness of prana and how we work with it. Not all yoga practice is created equal. The way we practice affects the quality and quantity of our prana. Remember that prana is affected by everything we do, not just yoga, but yoga is the most direct and effective way to affect it.
If you practice with stress and strain, trying too hard to do the asanas, you will be negatively affecting the prana because you are not in a state of flow. You are forcing things. You are not practicing with an awareness of prana. If you practice smoothly and gracefully, with attention to prana and breath, you will be positively benefitting your life force by working with in, instead of against it. Often it is a change of awareness that can most powerfully change the nature of your practice and the awareness of prana is the most important.
Next time you practice, try this: switch your main focus from the physical body to the breath and prana. When you are doing postures, put the body in the correct shape and then put your attention on how the breath is moving. Is it moving? If it is in a state of smooth flow, then you are working well with your prana. If the breath is rough or stuck or you are grunting or breathing through the mouth, you are breaking the flow of prana. Back up your posture a little and make sure your breath is flowing so your prana can flow.
After you practice some postures, sit for a while and practice pure breath yoga, where the whole of your attention and effort is on the breath. You can do Ujjayi or other types of pranayama. If you really want to take your prana practice deeper, start to work with the bandhas and kumbhakas during the breath practice.
In addition to attention on prana during your yoga practice, also pay attention to the life force and energy when you are doing other things. Check yourself: are you in a state of flow doing what you are doing? Are you relaxed and connected? Is the breath flowing effortlessly? If you are, you are in a state of pranic flow; even not doing yoga can be like doing yoga as long as you are nurturing your prana.
Learn more about prana, breath and life force in one of our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Trainings or on one of our specialized 100 Hour Advanced Yoga Modules. It’s a gift of health, balance and harmony that will serve you for the rest of your life. See you on the mat!
