"Asana practice should work all the prana [vayus]. It requires energization, expansion, contraction, upward movement, and downward movement in the right proportions."
"Asana practice is designed to draw downward-moving apana up to the navel center, and upward-moving prana vayu down to the navel center, uniting these two opposing energies to awaken samana."
Yoga is The Union of Prana & Apana
The definition of yoga in the Hatha Yoga texts is the union of prana (the upward force) and apana (the downward force) in manipura chakra (at the navel center). If prana and apana can be united in manipura chakra, we can awaken a very powerful energy which leads to the attainment of self-realisation.
Swami Shankardev Saraswati PhD
Following is an excerpt from Prana Vayus, a more advanced lesson that builds on the learning in Prana & Subtle Body Anatomy.
Contents
Vocabulary
Prana Vayus Introduction
Hatha Yoga: The Mastery of Prana
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Vocabulary
APANA VAYU — Governs downward and outward movement of prana; associated with elimination
PRANA VAYU — Governs intake and forward momentum of prana; energizing [One of 5 movements of life force energy known as prana; not to be confused with prana as a whole]
PRANA VAYUS — Five movements, currents, or functions of prana
SAMANA VAYU — Governs absorption / assimilation of prana; associated with contraction and consolidation
UDANA VAYU — Governs upward movement of prana; associated with growth and expression
VAYU — Wind or direction of energy; in The Five Elements, it’s the air element
VYANA VAYU — Governs circulation of prana; associated with expansion
Prana Vayus Introduction
Through observation and testing of their experiences, yogis came to identify five major movements, currents, or functions of prana that govern human physiology. [Olga Kabel] They called them prana vayus (vayu = wind).
Energetic Winds
Wind... refers not only to our gross breath, but also to the basal energetic forces that govern all of our bodily functions. The traditional name for these energetic winds is “vayu...” These vayus are sub-units of a “master” wind (pranavayu) that joins our mind together with elements from our mother and father at the moment of our conception. As we continue to develop in the womb, the pranavayu sub-divides itself... These winds then provide the energy for essential bodily functions such as circulation, elimination, assimilation, respiration and locomotion.
David Magone
Humans Process Energy Through the Vayus
Every day you take things in (food, water, information, experiences); then you process them one way or the other; then you absorb the nutrients or knowledge from the processing; you eliminate the stuff that you don’t need; and as a result you grow, both physically and mentally. This is an example of your vayus (currents of prana) at work.
Olga Kabel
The Pranayama Kosha is Made Up of Five Pranas
Pranamaya kosha is made up of five major pranas, which are collectively known as the pancha, or five, pranas: prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha 2008k
Asana Practice Should Work All Pranas
One should consider the role of all five pranas in asana practice. An integral asana practice should work all the pranas. It requires energization (prana), expansion (vyana), contraction (samana), upward movement (udana) and downward movement (apana) in the right proportion and balance. But the degree of these pranic movements will vary by condition and by dosha.
Dr. David Frawley & Sandra Summerfield Kozak, Yoga for your Type 2001
Hatha Yoga: The Mastery of Prana
Hatha Yoga is designed to assist the student in working with and eventually mastering life force energy (prana), which involves unifying complementary prana vayus.
Swami Shankardev Saraswati PhD writes that Hatha Yoga is the mastery of prana and that by learning how to feel and manipulate prana, we access the source of our being. He explains what this means specifically in terms of prana vayus in the quote that opened this post.
Hatha Yoga: Increase Energy & Transform Patterns of Flow
As the hub of pranic energy and vitality, the navel center is essential to hatha yoga, which aims to increase prana and transform the patterns of pranic flow in the body. Asana practice in particular is designed to draw downward-moving apana up to the navel center, and upward-moving prana vayu down to the navel center, uniting these two opposing energies to awaken samana. This integrating action strengthens the body, balances the mind, and stabilizes instinctive urges like hunger and sex so we can more easily regulate them. It gives us the clarity and courage to truly see ourselves, and the motivation and power to transform our habits and karmic tendencies. Moreover, the expansion of samana caused by the union of prana and apana at the navel center awakens sushumna nadi, the central energy channel essential to achieving the ultimate goal of yoga: perfect absorption of the mind in the state of samadhi.
Sandra Anderson
Asana Should Maintain Center of Energy in Navel
Generally, all asana should maintain the center of energy in the navel because the purpose of asana practice is to develop stability (samana) and calm on a physical level. Samana keeps all the pranas in harmony and is responsible for their nourishment.
Dr. David Frawley & Sandra Summerfield Kozak, Yoga for Your Type 2001
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