The Winds of Yoga - Pancha Vayu

Prana is energy, the orchestrating life force that animates our bodies. In yoga and ayurveda, it is broken into five subdivisions, or currents, of Prana. The five vayus are:

• Prana vayu: Not to be confused with “big P” Prana, “little p” prana is inward moving energy, responsible for inspiration, vitality, and enthusiasm. It is located in the chest and head.
• Apana vayu: Downward moving prana, responsible for elimination and grounding. It is located in the lower abdomen and pelvis.
• Samana vayu: Responsible for assimilation, discernment, and absorption. It is located in the navel and solar plexus.
• Udana vayu: The upward moving breath, responsible for speech, communication, expression, and spiritual development. It is located in the throat.
• Vyana vayu: Responsible for circulation of Prana, expansiveness, pervasiveness, movement, and coordination. It is located throughout the body.

The vayus don’t work alone. They are part of a system, and it might make more sense if you think of the way you process daily events. You take in food, liquid, information, and experiences. You process everything that you took in, absorbing what you need and eliminating the rest. As a result, you are nourished, and there is physical and mental growth. There are many things we can do to balance the five vayus, including yoga, pranayama (breathwork), meditation, and living in harmony with nature. By balancing the five vayus, we can improve our overall health and well-being.

When the five vayus are in balance, we experience physical, emotional, and mental well-being. However, if one or more of the vayus becomes imbalanced, it can lead to a variety of health problems.
Here are some examples of how the five vayus can manifest in our daily lives:

• Prana vayu: When prana vayu is strong, we feel energetic, motivated, and enthusiastic. When prana vayu is weak, we may feel tired, sluggish, and depressed.
• Apana vayu: When apana vayu is strong, we are able to eliminate waste products easily and effectively. When apana vayu is weak, we may experience constipation, diarrhea, or other digestive problems.
• Samana vayu: When samana vayu is strong, we are able to digest our food and assimilate nutrients efficiently. When samana vayu is weak, we may experience indigestion, bloating, or other digestive problems.
• Udana vayu: When udana vayu is strong, we are able to communicate effectively and stand up for ourselves. We may also feel a strong connection to our spiritual selves. When udana vayu is weak, we may have difficulty speaking up or expressing ourselves. We may also feel lost or disconnected from our spiritual selves.
• Vyana vayu: When vyana vayu is strong, we have good circulation and coordination. We are able to move freely and easily. When vyana vayu is weak, we may experience fatigue, muscle weakness, or stiffness.