Prana

In Sanskrit, Prana means "life force energy." The word Prana is composed of two Sanskrit root words, Pra meaning "movement" and An meaning "constant." Prana is also referred to as the breath and we all know that without the breath, there is no life.

"Every cell in our body has the capacity to hold infinity. Let us tap the full potential that nature has bestowed on us, the potential to hold infinity in every cell of the body. For that, we must practice meditation regularly. Then our physiology undergoes a change and every cell in the body is filled with Prana. As the level of Prana in the body rises, we bubble with joy."
- Sri Ravi Shankar

Prana is mentioned in the books of the Upanishads, the books of the Vedas, as well as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, but is mentioned more often in the Upanishads.

In these books, this energy is sometimes described as originating from the Sun and connecting the elements - fire, water, Earth, air and either. In Yoga, Ayurveda as well as Tibetan medicine, Prana is broken down into five categories known as Pranamaya Vayu in Sanskrit.

A person who is experiencing stiffness in the body is suffering with blocked life force energy and because of this is also dealing with an accumulation of toxins. When the life force energy is allow to flow freely again, toxins are removed from the body, bring the body back to a healthy state.

When the life force energy within increases to a great level, you will find that the body moves into some Asanas, Mudras, as well as Pranayamas spontaneously.

The energy of life is all through out the universe and is the energy that infuses and vitalizes all matter, including atoms and sub-atomic particles.

Because of this what we eat is very important, fresh fruits and vegetables should be eaten every day and we should refrain from eating leftovers that have been cooked more then twenty four hours ago, frozen foods should also be avoided as much as possible as well.

This is because twenty four hours after cooking, the food is now devoid of the life force energy and when food, even fresh food is frozen, there is no life force energy in the food.

Pranayama is a Sanskrit word composed from two words, Prana means "life force energy," Yama means "to control" or Ayama means "expansion." Therefore this practice is the channeling or controlling the Prana or life force within you, or expanding the life force energy within you.

Prana is all around us, but is more abundant in nature then in buildings and as we practice Pranayama, we are bringing in vital Prana into the body.

Most of us are breathing incorrectly, meaning when we inhale, we are taking a shallow upper chest breath which decreases the lung capacity, does not allow for the maximum amount of carbon dioxide to be exhaled, allow germs to sit in the bottom of the lungs and most importantly does not all the maximum amount of Prana to enter into the body.

In Sanskrit, Nadi means "flow" or "stream." Nadis are energetic pathways connect all Chakras together allowing the Prana or life energy to travel from one Chakra to another. The human body contains 72,000 energetic pathways that channel Prana through out the body.

These pathways range from wide and rushing to a mere trickle. When Prana is allowed to flow freely within the pathways, we are energetic and healthy, but when is not allowed to flow freely we becomes weak or congested and we tend to struggle with poor mental along with physical health.

Through the practice of Pranayama, Prana can be redirected through the main Nadi, the Sushumna Nadi and when the Prana reaches Sahasrara Chakra, the practitioner becomes Self-Realized or Enlightened.