The Wind of Practice

When it comes to "flow," my mind immediately goes to Prana Vayu.

Postures are like magnets, drawing us into yoga with promises of flexibility, strength, and stress relief. They're the flashy part that catches our eye and gets us through the studio door. But beyond their physical appeal, postures hold a deeper significance: they're vessels we sculpt with our bodies, then breathe life into, activating the primal forces of life known as Prana Vayu.

The true magic of an asana practice lies in how it orchestrates the dance of breath within the body. It's not just about mastering difficult poses; it's about synchronizing movement with breath to tap into the essence of life itself.

In Sanskrit, "Vayu" translates to "wind," while the root 'va' signifies "that which flows." So, a Vayu is essentially an energetic current that flows in a particular direction, governing various bodily functions and activities. There are five main Vayus that we study, Prana Vayu is primary.

Prana Vayu means "forward-moving air or wind" in Sanskrit. This wind flows inward and upward within the body. As the foremost energetic force, Prana Vayu guides and supports the functioning of the other four Vayus, forming the cornerstone of energetic balance and vitality.

Pranayama, or breath control techniques, are integral in enhancing Prana Vayu. These techniques range from simple deep breathing exercises to more advanced practices. In my classes, we most often use Ujjayi pranayama breath practice to connect into Prana Vayu. Once we begin to understand and make this connection to the breath flowing inwards and up, we naturally move into Apana Vayu, the second Vayu of downward and outward movement. That’s for another post!

In conclusion (if you will 😂)- Sure, nailing a challenging pose feels fantastic—it's a testament to our physical prowess! But when we become too fixated on postural achievement, we risk losing touch with the rhythm of our breath. While a vigorous, posture-driven class has its allure, a mindful, breath-centered approach is fundamental to a fulfilling yoga practice. It's what infuses our practice—and our lives—with that elusive sense of "flow."

This week - join me at The Flow in Medford as we play around with Prana Vayu on our journey to Astavaskrasana.