"Prana" is a Sanskrit word which means "the energy of the universe expressed in mental, physical and spiritual activity". Symbolically, prana is either yellow or coral in colour.

Prana is the vital air, which is connected with anahata chakra (the cardiac plexus near the heart) and is concerned with health, strength and the well being of body and mind. The body needs nourishment with food, water, and light. When these conditions are satisfied and air is inhaled by yoga breathing (Pranayama), the body becomes infused with prana. Pranayama enables the body to make use of prana and so prevents disease, increases vitality, and lengthens life.

Prana is the Life force, or breath of life. Prana is also known as one of the five bodily currents (prana, apana, samana, udana, vyana). Breath in Sanskrit is prana, but what we call breath is only an insignificant fraction of what the yogi understands by prana. Breath is more than inhaled and exhaled air, more than oxygen and nitrogen, even more than a chemist could analyze. Breath is the carrier of an especially efficacious life force of a stream, which nourishes the organism. There is actually little difference between this "life force current" and an electrical current. This current flows in the fluid along our spine.

The Yoga Vasistha describes prana as extending outside the physical body, insisting that the prana extends and reaches a distance of approximately twelve inches. The term given for this is "vadasanta" or twelve finger-breadths from the body. On one level, this is regarded as the field of prana. On another level, it is understood that prana, being cosmic, is not limited to this twelve-inch shell.

In addition to the physical body, yogis perceive man as possessing two other bodies - the causal and astral. This makes sense when we consider the words above from the Yoga Vasistha. Prana is the vital link between the astral and the physical body, but flows mainly through the Nadis or energy channels of the astral body.

Through the practice of Asanas and Pranayama, more prana is taken in and stored in the body, bringing great strength and vitality. Prana exists both as a positive and negative energy - the negative form known as apana. Prana is an afferent impulse (conveying impulses inwards) whose nature is to move upward, and apana is efferent (conveying impulses outwards) and moves downward. When the two channels are united at the Brahmanadi at the base of the spine (the opening to the sushumna), the Kundalini energy awakens.

The practice of “Pranayama” should not be confused (though it often is) with just breathing or respiration. “Prana” means breath, and “ayama” means pause, so it implies a pause in the movement of breath, or a breath retention (kumbhaka). For Pranayama to be successful, one must practice regularly, and the mind must be in a sattvic state. This is achieved by being steadfast in your yamas and niyamas (yogic ethics and observances), and practicing with focus and bhaava, or love from within.

Hatha Yoga texts refer to the Pranayama practices as “kumbhakas”. This is because the essential part of the practice for moving the Kundalini energy through the sushumna is the kumbhaka. This is the reason the various yoga scriptures mention that the breath should be held "as long as possible".

Consider your purpose for your practice of Pranayama. If you are trying to relax and reduce stress, there is no need to include kumbhaka or breath retention in the practice. It is very safe to practice the techniques without breath retention, resulting in a calmer mind and a deepened relaxed state. Often the practice of simple controlled breathing will cure insomnia and lower blood pressure.

If you are trying to move prana to the sushumna and raise the Kundalini, then one would incorporate kumbhaka. However, you MUST prepare the body before taking any measures to include kumbhaka. You must have cleansed the Nadis prior to introducing kumbhaka, and you must have normal blood pressure (the regular practice of yoga usually helps to normalize blood pressure). If you don’t prepare for kumbhaka properly, Pranayama can be dangerous as it affects the nerves, heart and lungs. Do not strain as you may damage these parts. Proceed with due caution and care, without the ego, and with an experienced Teacher who regularly practices themselves, and then Pranayama is safe.

When done correctly, Pranayama will ensure supreme vitality for the body and eternal peace for the mind.

Breath by Kabir

Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat.
My shoulder is against yours.
You will not find me in stupas, not in Indian shrine rooms,
    Not in synagogues, nor in cathedrals,
Not in masses, nor in kirtans, nor in legs winding around your
    Own neck, nor in eating nothing but vegetables.
When you really look for me, you will see me instantly –
You will find me in the tiniest house of time.
Kabir says: Student, tell me what is God?
He is the breath inside the breath.

Terms related to the practice of Pranayama

• Puraka, or inhalation
• Rechaka, or exhalation
• Kumbhaka, or retention
• Antara kumbhaka, retention of breath after inhalation
• Bahya kumbhaka, retention of breath after exhalation
• Sahita Kumbhaka, intentional suspension of the breath (chp2 v50 Patanjali Yoga Sutras)
• Kevala Kumbhaka, natural suspension of breath due to over oxygenation of the blood, as occurs during deep meditation

Sources: Yoga Dictionary by Harvey Day; Yoga of Light by Hans-Ulrich Reiker; Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar, Sivananda Companion to Yoga by the Sivananda Yoga Center; Pranayama by Swami Kuvalyananda.
Next month….. A simple breathing technique to cleanse the Nadis