What are the Five #Pranas?

Prana enables the body to move and the mind to think. It is the intelligence that coordinates our senses, and the perceptible manifestation of our higher selves.

Generally, Prana is understood as energy. Right and wrong! Not all energies are the same. Like there is energy in food, there is energy in the battery but these are different types of energy. You cannot replace food with batteries as a means of a human energy source. 

Prana means life force or vital energy. These are the forces or energies which we need to carry out life activities. What can we term as life activities? How do you know if someone is alive or not? You know because they breathe, move, speak, and think. Right? So, these activities are called life activities. The energy or the force we need to do these activities is called prana. There are five major pranas that provide energy for five different kinds of life activities.

1.    Apana – the force required for excretion, like sweating, urinating, etc.

2.    Samana – the force required for digestion and metabolism.

3.    Prana – the force required for the heart to pump.

4.    Vyana – the force required circulation and movement.

5.    Udana – the force required for upper body actions like talking, thinking, eye movement, etc.

Bandhas, Asanas and Pranayama 

By applying bandhas, we improve the functioning of these pranas in the body. When prana flows properly it optimizes the function, regeneration, and healing of the bodily systems which means optimizing physical and mental health.

Bandhas, when applied with specific yoga asanas, strengthen the muscles and promote the benefits of that specific asana. Stability, balance and control improves greatly. With Pranayama, when Bandhas are applied with practices like Ujjayi, Alternate Nostril Breathing, Bhastrika, etc. the benefits of these breathing exercises are strengthened. By applying retention and the locks, lung capacity and the functioning of the respiratory system improves. 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY "Meditation: Embracing Stillness”

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