Yoga Beyond the Body
YOGA BEYOND THE BODY - Irene Malamas
Prana - the life force - vital energy - that which moves and is always moving.
There is no English equivalent for the Sanskrit word, but similar concepts in other traditions are Qi in Chinese, Ki in Japanese, Pneuma in Greek and some say, the Holy Spirit in the Judeo-Christian faiths. Prana exists in all of creation. It is the force that animates all living beings, entering the body at birth, sustainer of life, departing the body at death. Prana moves and circulates within and around the body and is responsible for its functions. Increase your prana and you’ll increase your vitality. Prana is received from the people you mix with, your environment, food, water, air and sun. To increase the amount and quality of your prana, engage in positive thoughts, yogic practices and as close to a natural lifestyle as possible.
Where the mind goes, prana flows. Prana and consciousness are always bound together. While breathing is an involuntary process that requires no thought, mastery of the breath with conscious awareness is a powerful vehicle for prana. This mastery is attained through the practice of pranayama or yogic breathwork. In the yoga sutras, pranayama is listed fourth in the eightfold path to liberation. It bridges our external awareness with our inner world and true nature. Our naturally occurring, unconscious breath is controlled by the brainstem, the ancient part of our brain, for the purpose of survival. When we practice pranayama, we engage the frontal cortex, the most evolved area of the brain. This is where we can attain mastery of the mind, leading us to higher states of consciousness and liberation - the ultimate goal of yoga.
Pranayama involves techniques whereby we intentionally and consciously modify our breath. The techniques have an effect on our physiology and mental state. For safety, it is essential to practice under the guidance of a trained and experienced teacher who will offer techniques that are appropriate for your current state and level of practice. To start with, we must first establish an easeful, rhythmic breathing pattern, free of dysfunction. We can then begin to cultivate a relationship with prana through the classic techniques which fall into three main categories:
balancing,
calming,
and stimulating.
Once we are firmly established in the basic techniques, kumbhaka (Sanskrit for breath retention) can be introduced. This is where the real power of pranayama lies. The classic texts consider kumbhaka to be synonymous with pranayama. In other words, according to the classics, techniques that do not include breath retention are not pranayama. Physiologically, breath retention increases our tolerance to carbon dioxide, which has many benefits for our physical and mental health. For those on the yogic path, kumbhaka is the process by which one encounters spiritual awakening.
For anyone wanting to level up their yoga practice, pranayama is an essential piece on the journey to self discovery.
References:
Prana and Pranayama - Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati
50 Hour Pranayama Certification Course manual - Dominique Salerno
